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Chinese (Han dynasty) Tortoise-Shaped Inkstone 206 B.C.-A.D. 220 Gray earthenware 4 inches high, 10 inches long William Hood Dunwoody Fund 32.54.4a,b |
Look
- What kind of animal is this? How can you tell? Does it look like a
real tortoise? Have you ever seen a tortoise? What physical characteristics
of a tortoise are depicted to make it look NATURALISTIC?
What aspects are not naturalistic?
- Can you tell what material was used to make this inkstone? Where did
the artist find the material? Have you made anything out of clay?
- Do you think this inkstone was made (a) on a potter's wheel,(b) using
the coil method,(c) with a mold, or (d) by the slab method? Explain
your answer.Do you think this inkstone was difficult to make? Why do you
think so?
- What kinds of lines do you see? What shapes do you see? Are they GEOMETRIC
or ORGANIC shapes? Where do you see PATTERNS?
How are these patterns made?
Think
- Explain the significance of tomb figures and the belief in an afterlife.
Why would a Chinese scholar want to bring a tortoise-shaped inkstone
into the afterlife? Why do you think a tortoise was important to the
Chinese? Why do you think an inkstone was important to a Chinese scholar?
If you could bring something with you into the afterlife, what would
you bring? Why would you choose that? What purpose would it serve?
- How would you describe this tortoise? Do you think this tortoise is
kind or mean? Why do you say that? What about the tortoise conveys friendliness?
- What other objects in this unit may have been made to include in a
tomb? In what ways are these objects similar? How are they different?
- Do you think this tortoise-shaped inkstone has one or two parts? Look
closely. Where do you think it comes apart? Why would it have a lid?
Do you think it is hollow inside? The Chinese scholar used the inkstone
to grind and mix ink for writing. What would you use it for today?
- How is this work similar to the tomb retinue earth spirits? How is it different?
Key ideas.
Where does it come from?
What does it look like?
How was it used?
How was it made?
Discussion questions.
Additional resources.
Select another piece.
