Set of Twelve Zodiac Animals
唐十二生肖俑
A complete set of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals, each modelled on a human body — rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, pig. They stood guard in the four directions around a Tang tomb.
Object Facts
- Period
- Tang dynasty (618–907)
- Date
- 8th century
- Medium
- Earthenware with white slip
- Dimensions
- Each approx. H. 30.5 cm
- Held by
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York, USA - Accession
- 2000.662.7a–l
Gift of Charlotte C. Weber, 2000
Why it matters
The twelve-zodiac system itself is ancient, but this astonishing idea — fusing each creature onto a courtier's body — is pure Tang iconographic invention and the direct ancestor of every twelve-zodiac artwork since.
How it travelled
Acquired by the American collector Charlotte C. Weber and gifted to the Met in 2000. Full surviving sets are exceedingly rare; this one probably came from a single undisturbed tomb excavated in mid-20th-century Henan or Shaanxi.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see Set of Twelve Zodiac Animals?+
Set of Twelve Zodiac Animals is held by the The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA. Accession number 2000.662.7a–l. Online catalogue record: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/49381.
When was Set of Twelve Zodiac Animals created?+
Set of Twelve Zodiac Animals dates to 8th century, during the Tang dynasty (618–907).
What is Set of Twelve Zodiac Animals made of?+
Set of Twelve Zodiac Animals is a tomb figures executed in earthenware with white slip, measuring Each approx. H. 30.5 cm.
How did Set of Twelve Zodiac Animals end up at the The Met?+
Acquired by the American collector Charlotte C. Weber and gifted to the Met in 2000. Full surviving sets are exceedingly rare; this one probably came from a single undisturbed tomb excavated in mid-20th-century Henan or Shaanxi.
Can I reuse the photograph of Set of Twelve Zodiac Animals?+
Yes. The The Met has released the image under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), so it is free for any use, commercial or non-commercial, with no attribution required (though attribution is appreciated).
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