Chinese Western Jin Dynasty Pottery Spear Thrower

East Asia, China, Western Jin Dynasty, ca. 266 to 316 CE. A hollow-molded pottery tomb guardian figure of a spear thrower standing in a dynamic stance as if preparing to hurl his polearm forward. The warrior presents on delineated legs and wears a belted shirt with padded linings, and a perforation in the right hand shows where a spear was held. The almond-shaped eyes, high brows, bared teeth, and bulging cheeks create an intimidating visage, with cupped ears and a broad chin completing the physiognomy, and a tiered, beehive-shaped headdress tops the rounded pate. Traces of orange pigment visible across the greyware figure suggest it was once painted with vibrant colors. Size: 6.375" W x 12.8" H (16.2 cm x 32.5 cm)

Tomb figures like this one are part of a class of artifacts 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 other warriors, animals, musicians, athletes, structures... anything the deceased might need to recreate the world of the living. Even though they were mass produced, mingqi of the Han Dynasty 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. Caring for the po seems to have taken on a new level of meaning in the Han period, with more elaborate rituals and tomb construction arising.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, purchased in Hong Kong in the 1980s

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#141296
Condition Report: Repaired from multiple pieces, with restoration to areas of legs, body, and arms, and resurfacing with overpainting along new material and break lines. Left forearm missing with adhesive residue along break line. Original spear missing. Nicks and abrasions to limbs, body, and head, with several stable hairline fissures to body and head, minor softening to some finer details, and heavy encrustations. Nice earthen deposits and faint remains of original pigment throughout. Old inventory label beneath foot.