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 were made for the service and entertainment of the owner, ensuring that their journey in the underworld was a happy one. Figures of this type would have featured separately made body, head (like these fine examples), and hands to give an essence of movement and dynamism.
Selection of Chinese Han Dynasty Terracotta Court Attendant Heads
£ 250.00
A fine selection of Chinese Han Dynasty, hollow-moulded terracotta heads of a female court attendant. The facial features of each head have been finely modelled, displaying a serene smile. The face has been painted in white, reflecting the traditional makeup of the time. The eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes are rendered through a delicate black pigment, while the lips are painted in bright red. The hair, marked by black paint, is pulled back from the face.
PRICED INDIVIDUALLY
Period: Han Dynasty
Condition: Fine condition, with slight encrustations to the surface. Much of the original pigmentation remains. Perforations to top left and right on the front of Item A and B; perforation to the left on the back of Item C.
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