Lot of 2 Chinese Han Polychrome Tomb Attendants w/TL
East Asia, China, Western Han Dynasty, ca. 200 BCE to 200 CE. A wonderful pair of female tomb attendants - both skillfully mold-made from light grey earthenware and painted in white, black, and red. The two hold their arms in nearly identical positions - the left arm beside the body with the hand in a grip as if it once held an attribute and the right arm raised - one figure with this hand in grip, the other with the hand a bit more open but still posed as if it once held an object. Size: 18" H (45.7 cm) and 17.5" H (44.4 cm)
Tomb attendants 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 musicians, athletes, animals, structures … Even though they were mass produced, 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.
These pieces have been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and have been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.
Provenance: ex-Quinn collection, West Hollywood, California, USA, prior to 1990
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.
#149369
Condition Report: Head, forearm, and foot of one figure are reattached with losses and visible adhesive near the break lines. The other figure is repaired from about 6 pieces with repairs visible at midline across the torso and arms, and one foot reattached. TL holes as shown. Surface wear with chips, nicks, scuffs, and some loss to pigmentation. Surfaces also show nice deposits and root marks.
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East Asia, China, Western Han Dynasty, ca. 200 BCE to 200 CE. A wonderful pair of female tomb attendants - both skillfully mold-made from light grey earthenware and painted in white, black, and red. The two hold their arms in nearly identical positions - the left arm beside the body with the hand in a grip as if it once held an attribute and the right arm raised - one figure with this hand in grip, the other with the hand a bit more open but still posed as if it once held an object. Size: 18" H (45.7 cm) and 17.5" H (44.4 cm)
Tomb attendants 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 musicians, athletes, animals, structures … Even though they were mass produced, 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.
These pieces have been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and have been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.
Provenance: ex-Quinn collection, West Hollywood, California, USA, prior to 1990
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.
#149369
Condition Report: Head, forearm, and foot of one figure are reattached with losses and visible adhesive near the break lines. The other figure is repaired from about 6 pieces with repairs visible at midline across the torso and arms, and one foot reattached. TL holes as shown. Surface wear with chips, nicks, scuffs, and some loss to pigmentation. Surfaces also show nice deposits and root marks.
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