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LOT 0075A

Chinese Tang Dynasty Terracotta Court Attendant, TL'd

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East Asia, China, Tang Dynasty, ca. 618 to 907 CE. A striking ceramic figure of a court attendant, standing with hands clasped together over the chest and wearing flowing garments with pointy-toed shoes. The attendant presents a serious visage with finely modeled and painted features - large, almond-shaped eyes, a naturalistic nose and ears, red pursed lips, and full cheeks, all topped by an upraised coiffure with a topknot. Nice traces of white, black, and red pigments remain. During the Tang Dynasty, the ancients placed such model figures in tombs to ensure a safe journey to the afterlife. A fabulous burial figure of a type known as a mingqi or "spirit utensil" created to care for a deceased individual of high status in the tomb. Size: 15.125" H (38.4 cm)

Tomb attendants like this one, also known as mingqi ("spirit utensils" or "vessels for ghosts") became popular in the Han Dynasty and would persist for several centuries. Alongside figures like this one were musicians, athletes, animals, structures that often show a high level of detail and realism. 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.

Accompanied by digital copy of TL report No: GG 06.30.09.1 from Kotalla Labs, Germany dating this piece to 1200 years old (+/- 20%).

Provenance: ex-Galerie Art Et Civilisations, France, sold in 2007

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#151101
Condition Report: TL holes at back of right shoulder and lower end of left sleeve. Professionally repaired from multiple pieces, but very well done. A few chips to sleeves and minute nicks to high pointed areas. Normal surface wear with expected pigment loss commensurate with age, though still showing nice remains pigment.

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Time, Location
05 Dec 2019
USA, Louisville, KY
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[ translate ]

East Asia, China, Tang Dynasty, ca. 618 to 907 CE. A striking ceramic figure of a court attendant, standing with hands clasped together over the chest and wearing flowing garments with pointy-toed shoes. The attendant presents a serious visage with finely modeled and painted features - large, almond-shaped eyes, a naturalistic nose and ears, red pursed lips, and full cheeks, all topped by an upraised coiffure with a topknot. Nice traces of white, black, and red pigments remain. During the Tang Dynasty, the ancients placed such model figures in tombs to ensure a safe journey to the afterlife. A fabulous burial figure of a type known as a mingqi or "spirit utensil" created to care for a deceased individual of high status in the tomb. Size: 15.125" H (38.4 cm)

Tomb attendants like this one, also known as mingqi ("spirit utensils" or "vessels for ghosts") became popular in the Han Dynasty and would persist for several centuries. Alongside figures like this one were musicians, athletes, animals, structures that often show a high level of detail and realism. 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.

Accompanied by digital copy of TL report No: GG 06.30.09.1 from Kotalla Labs, Germany dating this piece to 1200 years old (+/- 20%).

Provenance: ex-Galerie Art Et Civilisations, France, sold in 2007

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#151101
Condition Report: TL holes at back of right shoulder and lower end of left sleeve. Professionally repaired from multiple pieces, but very well done. A few chips to sleeves and minute nicks to high pointed areas. Normal surface wear with expected pigment loss commensurate with age, though still showing nice remains pigment.

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Estimate
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Time, Location
05 Dec 2019
USA, Louisville, KY
Auction House
Unlock