Lot 116A
East Asia, China, Six Dynasties, ca. 221 to 589 CE.A powerful pottery tomb figure of a warrior, modeled in a dynamic pose with one knee bent as he raises his arms in action, once brandishing a weapon in one hand. His expressive face is carved with almond-shaped eyes, a neatly incised mustache, and a stern expression, all beneath a fitted cap that accentuates his martial role. He wears a belted tunic with folds rendered in relief, faint traces of pigment still clinging to the surface. By the Han dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE), human sacrifice was no longer practiced, and clay models were buried instead as mingqi (spirit goods). These figures represented the servants, protectors, and attendants of the deceased, ensuring they carried the comforts, defenses, and status of earthly life into the afterlife. Warriors such as this embodied strength and vigilance, safeguarding the tomb occupant from both spiritual and worldly dangers. Size: 4" L x 4.7" W x 9.6" H (10.2 cm x 11.9 cm x 24.4 cm)
The human figurines in tombs were arranged in a hierarchy: attendants, warriors, and servants were placed along the floors and niches, while images of the deceased, their peers, divine beings, and admired historical figures were painted, carved in stone, or impressed upon the clay tiles lining the tomb chamber. This figure, with his combative stance and vivid expression, would have been part of that ordered assemblage, standing ready as a guardian for eternity.
Cf. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art: University of Oregon (MWCH21:36) and Asian Art Museum (B60P325).
Provenance: private Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, USA collection; ex-Morphy Auctions, Denver, Pennsylvania, USA, December 2018; ex-Janet deCoux & Eliza Miller collection, thence by descent. Purchase receipt from Ching Tsai Loo Gallery dated 1950
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#197307
- Condition: Repair to proper left forearm with break line visible. Some loss to implement held in right hand with small brass wire protruding from previous repair. Light surface wear commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice presentation with good remaining detail and scattered earthen deposits.
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