East Asia, China, northern Qi Dynasty or early Tang Dynasty, ca. 550 to 650 CE. A charming mold made statue depicting a mother dog suckling three small pups. She leans on one paw, the other splayed out beside her head, while the three pups, each carefully molded to have curled tails and small ears, lie along her body. Her long tail drapes down her back legs. Her face is expressive, with painted eyes that look upward at the viewer; her ears are slightly raised in a classic quizzical dog look that will be familiar to anyone with a beloved canine companion. The remains of white and grey pigment on the sculpture give us an idea of what it would have looked like when first made. Size: 3.25" L x 5.25" W x 1" H (8.3 cm x 13.3 cm x 2.5 cm)

Northern Qi ceramics are seen as a revival of Chinese art following the invasions of the 4th century, and their tomb statuary, like this example, demonstrates their skill in molding detailed, lifelike forms. Tomb companions 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 animal figures like this one were musicians, athletes, structures… Everything the deceased interacted with in life. Even though they were mass produced, mingqi 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.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex Tanja Former collection

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#130868

Tiny surface crack on one edge of underside, otherwise in excellent condition, with nice remaining pigment and detail.