NORTHERN WEI TERRACOTTA PAINTED FIGURE

Ca. 500 AD. Chinese Northern Wei Dynasty. A carefully crafted male attendant figure dressed in a pinkish-cream tunic and dark cream-coloured trousers; a cream sash or belt runs around his waist; a hat, possibly of the Wu Sha type, perches atop his head. He stands with arms by his side, the hands covered by the sleeves. Attendant figures such as this item were important to a variety of cultures with afterlife beliefs that 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 ca. 386 to 534 AD and its most famous achievement was unifying a large empire following a long period of social and political turbulence. Craftsmen working under this dynasty were also responsible for beautiful works of art, as this figure exemplifies. Good condition.Size: L:255mm / W:60mm ; 575g. Provenance: From the private collection of a Somerset gentleman; previously in an old British collection, formed before 2000 on the UK /European art markets.