Altchinesisch- Han-Dynastie Terracotta Eine seltene bemalte Tonfigur eines männlichen Begleiters, mit TL-Test. - 28 cm

A RARE PAINTED POTTERY FIGURE OF A MALE ATTENDANT

Han Dynasty, 206 BC–AD 220
China, Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 220)
Polychrome painted terracotta
Height: 28.5 cm
With custom-made iron display stand
Thermoluminescence tested by Archeolabs TL, France

A finely modelled and remarkably well-preserved pottery figure of a standing male attendant, mingqi, fashioned with an elongated body and dressed in a long robe falling gently outward towards the feet. His arms are concealed within the exceptionally full rounded sleeves, the hands clasped formally before the body.
The sensitively modelled face has narrow almond-shaped eyes beneath strongly arched eyebrows, a straight nose and small mouth retaining vivid traces of red pigment. The hair is painted dark and drawn back into a prominent looped chignon at the reverse of the head. Considerable areas of the original pale engobe survive throughout, together with dark painted details and traces of the original polychrome decoration.
The extensive surviving ancient surface is particularly attractive, displaying natural burial accretions, mineralisation and areas of dark brown to black encrustation across the robe and head. These are interspersed with areas of the original light-coloured ground, creating the richly mottled archaeological surface characteristic of excavated Han pottery.

The figure belongs to a distinctive group of Han funerary attendants characterised by their slender proportions, long flaring robes, rounded sleeves, clasped hands and carefully painted facial features. Such figures represented servants and members of the household intended to accompany and serve the deceased in the afterlife.

Thermoluminescence analysis

The figure was examined by Archeolabs TL, France, under report:
FH-06-06-01-40-TA
dated 14 February 2006.

Two separate samples were taken by drilling:
Sample A: reverse of the head
Sample B: reverse, at the lower section of the tunic

Archeolabs concluded:
“Les résultats obtenus sur les deux prélèvements sont homogènes et indiquent une cuisson ancienne.”
“The results obtained from the two samples are homogeneous and indicate an ancient firing.”

The laboratory itself records the presumed culture and period as:
“Chine, dynastie Han (206 avant J.C. – 220 après J.C.)”

The original Archeolabs TL documentation accompanies the figure.

Provenance

Private collection, France, by 2006 and subsequently.
The figure was already documented and thermoluminescence tested in France in February 2006.

Comparative examples

Closely related painted pottery attendants were sold at Christie’s New York, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 29 March 2006.
Lot 242, A Group of Six Painted Pottery Figures of Attendants, Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 220), comprised six closely comparable standing attendants measuring approximately 27.2–28.2 cm, virtually the same scale as the present figure. The catalogue particularly notes their fitted layered robes, hair pulled back into a loop at the neck, delicate facial features and surviving blue, ochre and cream pigments. The group carried an estimate of US$8,000–12,000.

A further closely related group, lot 244, consisted of six painted pottery attendants measuring approximately 25.6–26.3 cm, likewise dated to the Han dynasty and estimated at US$8,000–12,000.

Christie’s additionally referred to a comparable group of twenty-one male and female painted pottery figures published by Gisèle Croës, Ritual Objects and Chinese Buddhist Art, March 2004, pp. 84–91, no. 21.
A particularly close museum-type comparison is also illustrated in Robert D. Jacobsen, Celestial Horses & Long Sleeve Dancers: The David W. Dewey Collection of Ancient Chinese Tomb Sculpture. The published example, described as a Standing Male Attendant, is attributed to the Xianyang region, Shaanxi province, Western Han dynasty, 2nd–1st centuries BC. It shares the same elongated silhouette, large rounded sleeves, clasped hands, painted facial features and hair gathered at the back.

The comparison is especially relevant because this particular form of attendant was produced with the sculptural detail deliberately restrained, much of its visual character originally being supplied through polychrome decoration.

Condition
In very good condition considering its age, with substantial original surface preserved.
The figure appears substantially intact, without apparent major structural breaks. Expected age-related wear, abrasions, pigment loss, surface weathering and burial accretions throughout. Extensive remains of the original engobe and painted decoration survive, including dark pigmentation to the hair and facial details and red pigment to the lips.

The small sampling aperture from the TL examination remains visible at the reverse of the head.
The figure is mounted on a custom-made black iron stand and is presently firmly secured to it, apparently by an adhesive or similar mounting material. The attachment has deliberately not been disturbed in order to avoid unnecessary risk to the ancient pottery.

A particularly appealing Han dynasty funerary attendant, distinguished by its excellent sculptural proportions, extensive surviving ancient surface and polychromy, documented French provenance since at least 2006, and positive two-sample thermoluminescence analysis.

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Shipping

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