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Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Ancient Art / Ancient Chinese
China – Mingqi Funeral Figure of a Court Attendant – Tang Dynasty Interesting Chinese funerary figure made in molded terracotta, depicting a standing court attendant, dressed in a long ceremonial crossed-neck tunic. The figure adopts the solemn, frontal posture characteristic of Han funerary sculpture, with arms clasped in front of the abdomen and the hands apparently hidden beneath the wide sleeves. Of stylized, distinctly vertical proportions, the body extends into a long tunic that fans out gracefully toward the base. The face features deliberately sober modeling, with softly defined features and hair indicated by a dark-pigmented area. Particularly attractive is the preservation of traces of the original polychromy, with red pigment observed on the tunic neck and on a series of vertical lines over the sleeves or the hands folded in front of the body. The surface also retains abundant traces of a pale preparatory coating or slip, together with earthy deposits and a general patina coherent with an archaeological piece. The lower part remains hollow and open, revealing the manufacturing process of the figure. It shows surface wear, small losses and chips typical of its age, as well as a lateral crack; nonetheless, it preserves the overall silhouette and a highly attractive sculptural presence. These figures, known as mingqi (明器), were placed in the tombs of Chinese elite members to represent the servants and members of the court who would accompany the deceased in the afterlife. Material: molded terracotta with remnants of slip and red and black polychromy. Dimensions: 25.5 × 12 × 5 cm. Proposed period: Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), probably Western Han, circa 2nd–1st century BCE. Condition: good considering its age; wear, deposits, losses of polychromy, small faults and a lateral crack visible in the photographs. Catawiki disclaimer: This object has been dated based on style by the seller. No further tests, such as TL test, C14 test, lapidary tests, analysis of pigments or radiography scans have been conducted to check the integrity of the piece.
Estimate:$1,237.74
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Estimate:
$1,237.74
EGYPTIAN BRONZE INLAID APPLIQUE OF URAEUS - MUSEUM EXHIBITED
06/21/2026
$1,854.44
Est: $1,341.83
OCT 17 | 10:00 PM
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