Tall Chinese Han Dynasty Tomb Attendant, Kneeling Woman

**Originally Listed At $1800**

East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A hollow-built pottery tomb attendant of sizable form depicting a kneeling woman painted with pigments in polychrome hues. The woman leans forward while wearing a lengthy dress with both knees tucked beneath her thighs. She holds both arms out as if presenting offerings or as a gesture of respect; the perforations along her wrists are missing their original hands. The head exhibits a sensitive, feminine visage comprised of slender eyes, a petite nose, and thin lips, centered within full cheeks and a black-painted coiffure. Size (w/ head): 5.5" L x 12.5" W x 21.8" H (14 cm x 31.8 cm x 55.4 cm)

Tomb statues like these horses 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, etc. 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 Santa Barbara, California, USA collection; ex-Charles Craig collection, before 2004

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#179022
Condition Report: Professionally repaired with restoration in some areas, and resurfacing with overpainting along new material and break lines. Abrasions and fading to original pigment, with light earthen deposits,