Ancient Chinese

Polychrome terracotta female figure China, Han Dynasty Interesting Chinese funerary figure made in molded and polychromed terracotta, probably representing a lady or court servant, conceived within the mingqi tradition — objects placed in tombs to accompany the deceased in the afterlife. The figure presents a particularly stylized frontal silhouette, with the body wrapped in a long garment that partially conceals the limbs and ends in a wide base designed to provide stability. The hands appear joined in front of the body under the tunic. Especially attractive is the preservation of traces of polychromy, mainly in reddish, gray, black and whitish tones, visible on both the face and the clothing. In the rear, the modeled tied-back hairstyle stands out, a detail that adds iconographic interest and likely allows interpreting the figure as female. The simplified treatment of the face, the frontalism, the volumetry of the dress and the placement of the hands find parallels with funerary figures made during the Han Dynasty, although the chronological attribution should be considered provisional in the absence of specific scientific documentation. Dimensions 30 × 14 × 18 cm approx. Material Terracotta with traces of polychromy. Proposed dating China, possibly Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) Conservation status Wear, erosion, concretions, abrasions and superficial losses of polychromy consistent with the archaeological nature of the piece. Possible ancient consolidations or restorations. Catawiki disclaimer: This object has been dated based on style by the seller. No further tests, such as a TL test, C14 test, lapidary tests, analysis of pigments or radiography scans have been conducted to check the integrity of the piece.

Estimate:£2,261.49

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