Lot 13
East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A delightful pottery figure of a lively pig with meticulously modeled realistic features such as perky ears, a flared snout, and a coiled tail - standing atop 4 slender legs, spread out as though mid-stride. His long snout presents a pair of recessed nostrils and a slightly open mouth, all beneath beady, ovoid eyes. A symbol of prosperity, models of pigs were frequently placed in the tombs of the deceased during the Han Dynasty to express the wish for wealth in the afterlife. Size: 8.5" L x 2.5" W x 4.5" H (21.6 cm x 6.4 cm x 11.4 cm)
The Han Dynasty was a period of wealth and stability for China, and the burial places of their rulers reflected this prosperity. Hundreds and sometimes thousands of pottery figures were placed within burial mounds, recreating the daily life of the Emperor's court or a noble person's world. 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 as we see in this example. 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: Vanishing Arts Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USA
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#192304
- Condition: Professionally repaired and restored with chipping along some visible break lines. Age-commensurate surface wear as shown. Otherwise, nice presentation with rich earthen deposits throughout.
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