East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A tall, hollow ceramic figure of a tomb attendant, mold made, with details all the way around the body. This figure was made to stand inside of a tomb, waiting to assist the deceased in the afterlife. It has flowing robes that are carefully detailed and would once have had articulated hands that fit into the open sleeves. Size: 4.75" L x 9.55" W x 16.75" H (12.1 cm x 24.3 cm x 42.5 cm); 17.75" H (45.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Tomb figures like this one 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 animals, musicians, athletes, structures… anything the deceased might need to recreate the world of the living. 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.

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) and the body has been found to be ancient; if purchased, you will receive a report confirming its age.

Provenance: private S.W. collection, Los Angeles, California, USA

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#125180

While the body is ancient (TL tested), the head is a modern replacement. Body is repaired from large pieces on upper portion. Encrustation on surface. Very nice detail remaining on clothing.