China, Song Dynasty, ca. 960 to 1279 CE. A reddish-grey, mold-made ceramic brick depicting a sleeping child. The child is nearly naked and lies turned slightly to one side, knees pulled up, one hand resting on the stomach and the other under the head. The background has undulating lines that give the appearance of fabric folds, as if the child is lying on a sheet. Size: 5.6" W x 6.95" H (14.2 cm x 17.7 cm)

From the mid-6th century CE onward, Chinese temples shifted from being made of wood to brick, which better survived rotting, fires, and various other disasters. During the Song Dynasty, numerous brick pagodas were built, like the famous Iron Pagoda in Kaifeng. Originally built of wood, it was struck by lightning and burned down before being rebuilt of brick in 1049 under the order of Emperor Renzong. Bricks like this one were mass produced to serve as the walls. The mold-making of bricks allowed them to have elaborate designs.

Provenance: private Florida, USA collection acquired in the 1980's

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#121182

One corner of the plaque is lost, as shown. The child's knee has a small loss.