NORTHERN WEI TERRACOTTA PAINTED FIGURE

C. 500 AD. Chinese Northern Wei Dynasty. An elaborately crafted male attendant figure dressed in a rich red tunic and brown trousers; from the rear view it can be seen that a brown sash or belt runs around his waist; a hat, possibly of the Wu Sha type, perches atop his head. He folds his arms in front of him as if an attending on the viewer. Attendant figures such as this item were important to a variety of cultures with afterlife beliefs which involved trials, travels, or an afterlife similar to that which was lived on earth, as well as acting as representations of the ancestors. Popular iconographic choices included warriors, dancers, male and female courtly figures, and animals. The Northern Wei dynasty ruled northern China from c. 386 to 534 AD, and its most famous achievement was unifying a large empire following a long period social and political turbulence. However, craftsmen working under this dynasty were also responsible for beautiful works of art, as this figure exemplifies. Good condition. Provenance: Property of a North London gentleman; previously acquire on the UK/European art market before 2000. Size: L:240mm / W:50mm ; 470g