Ancient Chinese

China – Mingqi funeral figure of a court attendant (mingqi) – Western Han Dynasty, probably Western Han, ca. 2nd century BC – 1st century BC. Interesting Chinese funerary figure made in molded terracotta, depicting a standing court attendant, dressed in a long ceremonial cross-collar tunic. The figure adopts the solemn, frontal pose characteristic of Han funerary sculpture, with arms brought together at the abdomen and the hands apparently hidden beneath the wide sleeves. With stylized proportions and markedly vertical, the body stretches into a long tunic that elegantly widens toward the base. The face shows deliberately sober modeling, with softly defined features and hair indicated by a dark pigment area. Especially attractive is the preservation of remnants of the original polychromy, with red pigment observed on the neck of the garment and on a succession of vertical lines on the sleeves or hands folded before the body. The surface also preserves abundant remnants of a pale slip or engobe, along with earthy deposits and a general patina coherent with an archaeological piece. The lower part remains hollow and open, showing the manufacturing process of the figure. It shows surface wear, small losses and chips typical of its age, as well as a visible lateral crack; nevertheless, it fully preserves the distinctive silhouette and a very appealing sculptural presence. These figures, known as mingqi (明器), were placed 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 remnants of engobe and red and black polychromy. Dimensions: 25.5 × 12 × 5 cm. Proposed period: Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD), probably Western Han, circa 2nd–1st century BC. Condition: good considering its age; wear, deposits, losses of polychromy, small losses and a lateral crack visible in photographs. Catawiki disclaimer: This object has been dated based on style by the seller. No further tests, such as TL dating, C14 dating, lapidary tests, pigment analysis or radiography scans have been conducted to check the integrity of the piece.

Estimate:£1,444.03

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