Ancient Chinese

China – Mingqi funeral figure of a court attendant – Han Dynasty, probably Western Han, circa 2nd–1st century BCE. Interesting Chinese funerary figure made in molded terracotta, depicting a standing court attendant dressed in a long ceremonial cross-collar robe. The figure adopts the solemn, frontal pose characteristic of Han funerary sculpture, with arms gathered in front of the abdomen and hands apparently hidden beneath the wide sleeves. With stylized, markedly vertical proportions, the body extends into a long robe that flares elegantly toward the base. The face shows a deliberately sober modeling, with softly defined features and hair indicated by a dark-pigmented area. Especially attractive is the preservation of remnants of the original polychromy, with red pigment observed on the collar of the garment and on a succession of vertical lines on the sleeves or the hands folded in front of the body. The surface also retains abundant traces of a clear preparatory coating or engobe, together with earthy deposits and an overall patina consistent 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 chipping typical of its age, as well as a lateral crack; nevertheless, it preserves the characteristic silhouette and a highly appealing sculptural presence. These figures, known as mingqi (明器), were placed in the tombs of Chinese elite members to represent servants and court members who would accompany the deceased in the afterlife. Material: molded terracotta with remnants of engobe and red and black polychromy. Dimensions: 24 x 6 x 6 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 lateral crack visible in the photographs. Catawiki disclaimer: This object has been dated based on style by the seller. No further tests, such as TL, C14, lapidary tests, analysis of pigments or radiography scans have been conducted to check the integrity of the piece.

Estimación:€1,600

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