CHINESE MING DYNASTY TERRACOTTA FIGURE

Ca. 1368-1644 AD. Ming Dynasty. An elaborate male servant figure in court dress or shenyi consisting of a long waistcoat tied at the waist and long, flaring sleeves. His robe is dark blue with light blue accents on the sleeves and collar, while his elaborate hairstyle is accented in black and tied with a red ribbon. In his right hand, he carries an object. This type of figurines were tomb attendants, a class of artefacts called 'mingqi' - sometimes known as "spirit utensils" or "vessels for ghosts". They became popular in the Han Dynasty and would persist for several centuries. Alongside figures like this one were musicians, athletes, and animals. Mingqi often show a high level of detail and naturalism. These were designed to assist the 'po', the part of the soul of the deceased that remained underground with the body while the 'hun', the other part of the soul, ascended. Hundreds of pottery figures like these were placed into tombs during the Ming period. In one undisturbed Ming Dynasty prince's tomb, archaeologists found an array of small figures placed as if in ceremonial procession; the deceased's books, paintings, clothing, and other personal effects were also present. Good condition. For a general overview of the art of the Ming Dynasty, see Department of Asian Art. (2000). "Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)"; In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ming/hd_ming.htm) Size: L:240mm / W:73mm ; 440g. Provenance: From the private collection of a Somerset gentleman; previously in an old British collection, formed in the 1980s on the UK /European art markets.