Ancient Chinese

Auction description China – Funerary figure of a court attendant (mingqi) – Han Dynasty, probably Western Han, ca. 2nd–1st century BCE. An interesting Chinese funerary figure made of molded terracotta, depicting a standing court attendant, dressed in a long ceremonial robe with a crossed-neck collar. The figure adopts the characteristic solemn, frontal pose of Han funerary sculpture, with the arms gathered in front of the abdomen and the hands apparently hidden beneath the wide sleeves. With stylized, decidedly vertical proportions, the body extends into a long robe that elegantly broadens toward the base. The face features deliberately sober modeling, with softly defined features and hair indicated by a dark pigment zone. Especially attractive is the preservation of remnants of the original polychromy, with red pigment observed on the neck of the garment and on a series of vertical lines on the sleeves or hands gathered in front of the body. The surface also retains abundant traces of a clear slip or engobe, together with earthy deposits and a general patina consistent with an archaeological piece. The lower part remains hollow and open, showing the manufacturing procedure of the figure. It shows surface wear, small losses and chips typical of its age, as well as a lateral crack; nevertheless, it fully preserves the characteristic silhouette and a very attractive sculptural presence. These figures, known as mingqi (明器), were deposited in the tombs of Chinese elite members to represent the servants and members of the court who would accompany the deceased in the afterlife. Material: molded terracotta with traces of engobe and red and black polychromy. Dimensions: 25.5 × 12 × 5 cm. Proposed period: Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), probably Western Han, circa 2nd–1st century BCE. Condition: good considering its age; wear, deposits, losses of polychromy, small flaws, and a lateral crack visible in the photographs. Catawiki disclaimer: This object has been dated based on style by the seller. No further tests, such as a TL test, carbon dating (C14) test, lapidary tests, analysis of pigments or radiography scans have been conducted to check the integrity of the piece.

估價:$1,914.08

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