Farm Shed with Grain Mill

Eastern Han dynasty (A.D. 25–220)

China

This humble-looking burial model illustrates two notable inventions in engineering and architecture that were in used widely during the Han dynasty. The rotary mill, worked by a pedal-operated hammer, was used to prepare grain for flour. The shed that encloses it has a deeply overhanging tile roof supported by a wood column with projecting bracket arms. This type of bracketing, which transferred the weight of the roof to the column, became an increasingly important feature of later Chinese buildings.

Status: On View, Gallery 133
Department: Arts of Asia

Title: Farm Shed with Grain Mill
Place: China (Artist's nationality)
Date: 25 CE–220 CE
Medium: Brick-red earthenware with green lead glaze
Dimensions: 17.8 × 19.4 × 27.3 cm (7 × 7 5/8 × 10 3/4 in.)
Credit Line: Gift of Rose Movius Palmer
Reference Number: 1976.533
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