Chinese Han Dynasty Red Terracotta Figurine

$499.17

An extremely rare red terracotta figurine from the Han Dynasty Period. The female figure appears standing and with her arms along her body. Robes display some carved detailing. She has a double bun hairstyle and her finely detailed hair still displays some of its original dark pigmentation. Facial features are beautifully modelled, with large almond shaped eyes and gently smiling lips. The statuette’s disproportioned features, the large head and very long arms, make this item particularly compelling and unusual.

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.
Condition: Very fine, some earthly encrustations on the surface.

SOLD

In Ancient China, terracotta unglazed and low-fired glazed statuettes of animals and human figures, known in Chinese as mingqi, would have been placed in the deceased’s tomb to ensure companionship and service in the afterlife. Mingqi were usually modelled as an intimation of either common objects that once played a vital role in Han Dynasty domestic life, or as zoomorphic and anthropomorphic figures that were closely related to the deceased when they were alive. Terracotta figures of court attendants, such as this fine example, were made for the service and entertainment of the owner, ensuring that their journey in the underworld was a happy one.

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

Weight 134.8 g
Dimensions H 14 cm
Culture

Pottery and Porcelain

Region

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