**Originally Listed At $400**

East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A beautiful green-glazed hollow seated ceramic dog. The pup's head leans forward, slightly cocked; he sits with his paws crossed in a gesture unmistakable to dog lovers as attentive. His back legs curl underneath his body, and his heavily-furred tail extends outward from his body. Fine details of thick, long fur, especially visible down the spine and on the stomach, are very clear, carefully depicted by the artist who made the mold to create this item. This dog probably represents a beloved pet, and was made as a guard and companion to accompany someone into the afterlife. Size: 6.8" W x 3.75" H (17.3 cm x 9.5 cm)

Tomb figures like this dog 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 animals like this one were musicians, athletes, soldiers, structures… 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 Tucker collection, New York, USA

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#131244

Intact, with excellent deposits on its surface. Some cracks and losses to the glaze, especially on the tail and the lower back.