Since my mother in law is visiting, and we had passes to the High Museum, we kept the kids out of school today to go on a field trip to see the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit. Just wonderful! I had no idea that they were painted. The detail on these guys is so fine - individual hair, toes and toenails, armor pieces, and each one is unique.
Look at this pic - we saw one just about like this in the exhibit, with red lacquer paint on the armor, and fine detail such as the tread of the boots. (No picture taking was allowed, but they had a cardboard cutout soldier we posed the kids in front on...)
Apparently, these soldiers were made in pieces (8 different head molds for example) and then assembled. They made them in the same way they made terra cotta drain pipes and roof tiles. Can you imagine today making over 7,000 life size people the same way you would make ceramic vessel sinks or something?
Look at this pic - we saw one just about like this in the exhibit, with red lacquer paint on the armor, and fine detail such as the tread of the boots. (No picture taking was allowed, but they had a cardboard cutout soldier we posed the kids in front on...)
Apparently, these soldiers were made in pieces (8 different head molds for example) and then assembled. They made them in the same way they made terra cotta drain pipes and roof tiles. Can you imagine today making over 7,000 life size people the same way you would make ceramic vessel sinks or something?
