A Chinese Ming Dynasty Palanquin and Attendants

$1,136.67

A set of Chinese Ming Dynasty earthenware attendants, together with a green glazed palanquin and seated figure. Each male attendant is styled in a long robe, which is coloured with a vivid green glaze. Within the palanquin is a seated figure, representing the deceased. He too is dressed in a green glazed robe, with additional detailing in a brown glaze. The attendants accompany him on his journey through the afterlife, announcing his presence. The palanquin is also coloured in a dark green glaze, with dark yellow accents and a black roof.

Palanquin: 45cm height x 16.5cm width

Figures: 21.9cm height x 6.5cm width

N.B. Price is for the set.

 

Date: Circa 1368–1644 AD
Period: Ming Dynasty
Condition: very good, with bright vivid glaze and additional cold-painted detailing still remaining. Some loss of glaze over time.

In stock

These figures would have been displayed amongst the processional group within a tomb, most likely before a sedan chair or palanquin and before the musician figures. They would have served a ceremonial purpose – to announce the arrival of the tomb occupant. The palanquin, likewise, would have been used in the next life, carrying the deceased on his journey.

The Ming dynasty played host to some of China’s most renowned artistic achievements – famed, of course, for its vases, but also works such as Shen Zhou’s ‘Lofty Mount Lu’. The culture’s artistic explosion can be in part explained by the Ming dynasty’s economic success.

To discover more about Chinese terracotta statuettes, please visit our relevant blog post: Terracotta Tomb Attendants.

Weight 3000 g
Dimensions W 16.5 x H 45 cm
Country

Culture

Pottery and Porcelain

Region

Glaze

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