Lot 82
East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. Standing proud and barking in animated fashion, a green-glazed, hollow-figured, mold-made pottery dog with a naturalistically modeled body - its head tilted slightly upward and mouth agape as if barking, revealing its tongue. Forward curved ears and an erect and curled tail add to the dog's dramatic presence. In addition, the canine wears a decorated harness, and much of the original brown slip remains on the surface with the green glaze showing attractive craquelure that has developed over the ages. The Han Dog was used as a tomb guardian protecting the master's grave with its alert stance and fierce appearance. Size: 12.25" L x 12" H (31.1 cm x 30.5 cm)
Tomb attendants 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 a dog like this one would have been musicians, athletes, animals, 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.
For a very similar example, see Artemis Gallery, Feb 15, 2018 at a hammer price of $6000.
Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005
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#194821
- Condition: Minor chips on feet, missing two upper canine teeth, staining of glaze. Glazed areas with pronounced silvery iridescence. In superb condition for its age!
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |