<em>Tomb Tower</em>, 25 B.C.E.–220 C.E. Earthenware, lead glaze, Height: 42 in. (106.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased from the Schloss Collection with funds given by Dr. Richard and Ruth Dickes, Lucille and Martin E. Kantor, Dr. Robert and Bernice Dickes, Florence and Irving Kingdon, Dr. Bertram H. Schaffner, Dora Wong, and Diane H. Schafer and Frank L. Babbott Fund, 1997.142a-e. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1997.142a-e_SL3.jpg)

Tomb Tower

Medium: Earthenware, lead glaze

Geograhical Locations:

Dates:25 B.C.E.–220 C.E.

Dimensions: Height: 42 in. (106.7 cm) a bottom: 8 1/8 x 13 3/8 x 14 3/4 in. (20.6 x 34 x 37.5 cm) b 1st story: 20 3/8 x 12 x 12 1/4 in. (51.8 x 30.5 x 31.1 cm) c 2nd story: 13 3/4 x 14 1/2 x 13 1/2 in. (34.9 x 36.8 x 34.3 cm) d balcony: 6 3/4 x 10 5/8 x 9 1/2 in. (17.1 x 27 x 24.1 cm) e top : 15 1/2 x 13 1/2 x 13 in. (39.4 x 34.3 x 33 cm)

Collections:

Museum Location: Asian Galleries, West, 2nd floor (China)

Exhibitions:

Accession Number: 1997.142a-e

Image: 1997.142a-e_SL3.jpg,

Catalogue Description:
Tomb Tower consists of five separate sections. In general all sections have most descriptive details on the front, some detail on the sides, and little on the rear. The bottom section (a) represents a walled courtyard, the front wall having a raised section surmounted by a roof. One half of the central double door is open with the figure of a watchdog in the open doorway. The main story of the Tower (b) has high walls surmounted by a projecting balcony. Details are represented by molded or hand-built elements as well as lightly incised lines, with openings cut through the slab walls. The front opening is surmounted by a projecting rectangular grille and has two press-molded faces attached to the sides. Two figures stand on the front corners of the projecting balcony. The balcony is supported at the corners by architectural elements composed of standing potbellied bears, projecting three-part brackets in the form of dragons. The opening on the front wall of the second story (c) also has two press-molded faces attached to the sides. The story is surmounted by a flat, projecting roof that curves gently down at the corners; tiled roofs. Projecting from each of the four corners of the roofs ((c and e) are press-molded, quatrefoil floral ornaments. The balcony (d) has two figures standing on the corner, one identical to those below and one with a tall headdress. The top story (e) has an opening in the front with one face peering out and is topped by a flat, projecting roof with floral ornaments at the corners. The peak of the roof is surmounted by two floral ornaments flanking the large figure of a dove. The Tower is covered with an uneven variegated iridescent, green glaze. [From Accession Card]

Brooklyn Museum