Large Chinese Han Dynasty Pottery Dancer

$4,420.36

An elegant and large grey earthenware Han Dynasty figure of a dancer. The clothing is typical, comprising a flowing, long-sleeved robe, and shoes just visible under the folds of the hem. The figure retains the original white slip and there is additional decoration in red, umber, and black pigments to show the facial features and the hair, which forms a long pony tail down below the shoulders. The potters have succeeded in imparting a vibrant sense of fluidity, displaying realism in the stance and adding movement and dimension by the curves of the long draped sleeves.

Date: Circa 200 BC/AD
Period: Han Dynasty
Condition: Very fine, complete and intact. The slip and painted decoration a little rubbed in places but largely extant, with light earthy accretions.

In stock

Grave goods were an important status symbol in ancient China, so the affluent and important would be accompanied in their travels through the afterlife with numerous depictions of people and items. These were made specifically for the service and entertainment of the owner, so that his/her journey would be a happy one.

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

Weight 7 g
Dimensions H 51.5 cm
Country

Culture

Pottery and Porcelain

Region

Reference: For a similar item, The Metropolitan Museum, accession number 1992.165.19.

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