Chinese Grey Prowling Wild Dog Mingqi

$372.79

A finely rendered Han Dynasty hollow moulded grey terracotta prowling zoomorphic figure, possibly a wild dog. The animal, leaning forwards with its mouth open in a protective stance, displays naturalistic anatomical features. Facial features are finely modelled, as well as the paws and the body musculature.  This statuette was likely a ‘mingqi’, a burial figurine, placed at the entrance of the tomb to protect the deceased in the afterlife.

Date: Circa 206 BC -220 AD
Period: Han Dynasty
Provenance: The C. Roger Moss OBE collection. The late C. Roger Moss OBE was a renowned art collector who, throughout the years, thanks to his determination and enthusiasm, was able to create an outstanding collection of artworks, most prominently from China and the Orient, but also from other cultures.
Condition: Fine, a chip to the tail, otherwise intact. Some earthly deposits to the surface.

SOLD

SKU: CS-137 Category: Tags: ,

Such ceramic dog statuettes would be employed as tomb guardians to protect their master’s grave. All Han Dynasty pottery dogs were created using two-part moulds. Once the main shape was attained, details such as eyebrows or whiskers were then added. More dogs appear in the later Han period, frequently in tombs. Likely this is because during this period the landed gentry lived on large estates and needed dogs to keep guard of their property. This guardian dog most likely belonged to an elite individual worthy of the devout protection this statuette exhibits.

To discover more about the Roger Moss Collection, visit our Provenance Collection Page.

Weight 500 g
Dimensions L 21 cm
Culture

Pottery and Porcelain

Region

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