Making of a Warrior

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Formidable: 12 life-sized terracotta warrior figures will be among the display

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Hair: In a topknot tied on one side of his head. Generals wear their hair plaited so their hats fit, and acrobats' hair is tied in buns at the back of their heads. Along with musicians, they were included to amuse Emperor Qin in the afterlife.

Hat: Soft with a little tie at the back to tighten it. None of the figures is wearing a helmet. Stone replicas of helmets were found elsewhere.

Eyes: More pointed than some figures in the exhibition.

Head: Each figure's face is unique, though not thought to be based on real individuals. The heads were made from moulds and then given their own characteristics. The potter's finger marks are visible on his cheeks.

Nose: Squat. Some figures have pointier noses, suggesting they came from the north-west of China.

Beard: Added by hand from small pieces of clay. Some figures have fuller beards; others are clean-shaven.

Scarf: To stop his armour chafing.

Armour: A terracotta copy of the lacquered leather worn by real warriors. Where he needs to be more flexible, the panels are smaller. Held together by threads. The studs would probably have been metal added by hand. Unlike horsemen, who needed to be more flexible, his armour covers his shoulders and abdomen. Generals' armour was more decorative and longer.

Sleeves: Folds indicate they were made from padded cotton cloth. His right arm is slightly fire-blackened. After the emperor died in 210BC there were four years of chaos and peasant rebellions when the pits containing the terracotta warriors were looted, before the Han dynasty began. Fire destroyed the wooden planks which formed the roof. Falling earth knocked warriors over.

Body: Hollow. Built up from the legs.

Hands: Made separately in moulds and added to the arms. He would have been holding bronze weapons which were later taken by looters because they were life-size and fine quality.

Legs: Built up from coils or tubes, they are solid at the bottom but hollow further up. Some have a mark on the back of their leg indicating the team that made them.

Tunic and trousers: Modelled on traditional cotton garments.

VITAL STATISTICS
Height: 187cm (just over six feet). The tallest is 195cm. They were built slightly bigger than life to look fierce. Weight about 185kg

Shoes: In real life, made from leather, they left the tops of his feet exposed. Held on with bows round the ankles. His feet are solid and made from moulds.

Stand: The first part to be made, it is solid terracotta.

 

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