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East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A handsome pair of ceramic standing warriors, made to be placed in a tomb. Each figure stands at attention - probably once with a spear and a shield in the openings in his hands - dressed in a tunic with painted armor on the chest. He wears this tunic above a long skirt and boots. Crowned by a neat bun beneath a pointed cap, each soldier features a stern visage of fine brows, slender eyes, a broad nose above a Fu Manchu moustache, and closed lips. Guardian figures like these are part of a class of artifacts called mingqi; sometimes known as "spirit utensils" or "vessels for ghosts" since they 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 into the afterlife. They became popular in the Han Dynasty and would persist for several centuries. Size (of larger): 7" W x 18.2" H (17.8 cm x 46.2 cm); 19.2" H (48.8 cm) on included custom stand.

The Han Dynasty was a period of wealth and stability for China, and the burial places of their rulers reflected this prosperity; they held hundreds and sometimes thousands of miniature terracotta figures who reflected the daily life of the Emperor's court, including warriors clad in full armor, servants, eunuchs, animals, and models of important buildings like granaries. The creation of all these pottery figures spawned a huge industry and the remains of workshops have been found near some of the burial mounds. Even though they were produced en masse, mingqi often exhibit a high level of detail and naturalism, as seen here.

Provenance: ex-Barakat Gallery, Beverly Hills, California, USA, acquired prior to 2000

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#175233

Slightly taller figure has been professionally repaired and restored with chipping to feet, but other figure is intact. Both have expected surface wear as shown. Otherwise, both are excellent with impressive remaining pigments.