{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O97310"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O97310/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BB4155/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BB4155/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BB4155","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O97310/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O97310","accessionNumber":"C.222-1934","objectType":"Figurine","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This glazed earthenware figure represents a foreign dignitary. He sports a spectacularly well-groomed beard, a large pot-belly and a helmet-like hat.  The Chinese potters who modelled this type of figure clearly intended to show non-Chinese. The dress, hat and features probably specified a particular foreign group.The man here is possibly a foreign dignitary. \r\nMany ethic groups can be identified in the tomb figures of the Sui and Tang dynasties. This variety reflects the cosmopolitan flavour of life in towns along the Silk Road and in the capital, Chang'an (present day Xi'an). Because of their position on a major trade route, Silk Road towns experienced a regular traffic of people passing through, many demanding attention from the local officials. Regular embassies seeking trade, peace, war and marriage alliances required hospitality. Officials would have spent considerable time entertaining guests, such as the one who inspired this figure, from near and far.","physicalDescription":"Figurine of glazed earthenware. In the form of a foreign dignitary with a beard. Because of their position on a major trade route, Silk Road towns saw a regular traffic of people passing through, many demanding attention from the local officials. Regular embassies seeking trade, peace, war and marriage alliances required hospitality and officials would have spent considerable time entertaining guests from near and afar. This figure sports a spectacularly well groomed beard, a large pot-belly and a helmet-like hat. The Chinese potters who modelled this type of figures clearly intended to show non-Chinese, and their dress, hat and features probably specified a particular foreign group.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Earthenware","id":"x29356"}],"techniques":[{"text":"glazing","id":"AAT53914"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Earthenware, glazed and with unfired pigments","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[{"text":"Tang","id":"AAT18420"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006BB4155"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"44 (VA)","id":"THES49802"},"free":"","case":"CA018","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Foreign envoy","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 6th century-early 7th century","earliest":"0550-01-01","latest":"0650-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Gift of John Sparks","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"72.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"13.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Figurine, earthenware glazed and with unfired pigments, China, Six Dynasties, late 6th century-early 7th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Whitfield, Susan. <u>The Silk Road: Trade, Travel, War and Faith</u>. London: The British Library, 2004, p. 230, pl. 157."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"西域","id":"CIT276600"},{"text":"男人","id":"CIT288762"},{"text":"冠巾","id":"CIT287747"},{"text":"鬚 (人體面部)","id":"CIT288971"},{"text":"袍","id":"CIT289580"},{"text":"鞋","id":"CIT0288715"},{"text":"站立 (人體姿勢)","id":"CIT278931"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Figure of a foreigner  \r\nSui dynasty \r\n581-618\r\n\r\nThis man's distinctive beard and his non-Chinese face suggests that he was a foreigner, probably an envoy.\r\n\r\nEarthenware with brown lead glaze\r\n\r\nJohn Sparks Gift\r\nMuseum no. C.222-1934","date":{"text":"2007","earliest":"2007-01-01","latest":"2007-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["C.222-1934"],"accessionNumberNum":"222","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":1934,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-06-08","recordCreationDate":"2004-03-25","availableToBook":false}}