East Asia, China, Six Dynasty Period, North Qi Dynasty, ca. 550 to 577 CE. A life-size plaster head of a male tomb attendant exhibiting stylized features such as bulging ovoid eyes with heavy lids, high-arching brows that taper inward to form the slender nose, pursed lips flanked with indented corners, and puffy cheeks. The smooth forehead is delineated from the coiffure with a petite plateaued lip, and the smooth top suggests it was capped with a hat or helmet. Traces of white and black painted details are visible across the composition and suggest it was adorned with brightly colored pigments at one time. This type of tomb attendant is known as a "ming qi" (literally "spirit utensil") created to care for a deceased individual of high status in the tomb. Size: 6.5" L x 6.5" W x 8" H (16.5 cm x 16.5 cm x 20.3 cm); 13.25" H (33.7 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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#145859

Professionally repaired from several large pieces, with light restoration and resurfacing along break lines. Chips and abrasions to neckline, ears, nose, eyes, and forehead, with fading to original pigmentation, and light encrustations. Nice earthen deposits and fine traces of original pigmentation throughout.