Foreign Envoy from an Imperial Tomb
May one see it?
Yes, receiving visitors
On public display.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the sculpture
Along with the figure to the right, this larger-than-life sculpture once formed part of a Spirit Way, with two rows of facing figures and animals leading to a tomb. When the figures arrived at the V&A they were described as Korean, since Korean noblemen wore similar wide-brimmed horsehair hats. However, the combination of Korean headwear with Chinese robes is not known elsewhere, so instead the official probably represents a generic foreign envoy. He is presenting a scroll, possibly with the text of an imperial edict.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Particulars
- Accession number
- A.2-1913
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
