Chinese Han Dynasty Figurine of a Foreign Groom
£ 325.00
A rare red terracotta figurine of a Laowai, a bearded foreign groom, from the Chinese Han Dynasty Period. The figurine appears standing with one arm along his body and with the other holding a ritualistic object, possibly an offering to his master. He is wearing the traditional Han Dynasty court attire, known as shenyi, consisting of a long vest, thickened collar and tied to the waist through a belt. He features a combed back hairstyle, completed by a headband. Facial features, with large eyes, big round nose and beard, are finely modelled in the terracotta. The statuette’s foreign features make this item particularly compelling and unusual, a true rarity for its time.
Date: Circa 202 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. His great love for ancient cultures and study for interesting and unusual artefacts informs his collection.
Condition: Fine, complete and intact.
SOLD
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China (206 BC–220 AD), and its art is notable for aiming to give form to everyday people and objects. It was a period of significant economic growth, and this facilitated discovery and innovation: technical possibilities in the arts increased as a result, enabling artists to push boundaries. The art of the Han dynasty is largely decorative, a shift away from the functional, ritualistic art of the previous Qin dynasty. This statuette was likely a ‘mingqi’, a burial figurine, viewed as a sort of utensil for the afterlife, and usually depicting everyday objects and people, like dancers, court attendants, and servants. Mingqi figurines of dancers and musicians would have been placed in the tomb with the deceased to ensure company and entertainment.
To discover more about the Roger Moss Collection, visit our Provenance Collection Page.