Ancient Chinese, Han dynasty Terracotta Mingqi warrior - 46 cm
Starting bid
€ 1
Add to your favourites to get an alert when the auction starts.
Expert
Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 3,300 - € 4,000
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 139803 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Description from the seller
CHINA, HAN DYNASTY (206 BCE–220 CE)
Invoice seen by Catawiki
Important funerary figure of a warrior or guard in polychrome terracotta — Mingqi
Interesting and expressive Chinese funerary figure in polychrome terracotta, representing a standing warrior or guard, belonging to the sculptural tradition developed during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE).
The figure appears upright and frontal, dressed in a long robe with wide sleeves over trousers, preserving substantial remains of its old pictorial decoration in dark tones, cream and red. The red diagonal band crossing the torso stands out in particular.
The right arm is flexed and raised, with the hand clenched, while the left descends along the body. This arrangement indicates that originally the figure would have held weapons, staffs or other attributes made separately, currently lost, a common circumstance in this type of funerary sculptures.
The face, conceived in a deliberately schematic yet expressive manner, features eyes, nose and mouth modestly modeled, topped by a distinctive headdress.
These figures, known as mingqi, formed part of the extraordinary funerary universe of Han China. They were deposited in the tombs of high-ranking individuals to symbolically reproduce in the Beyond the retinue, the servants and the elements of daily life that the deceased had enjoyed.
Han funerary sculpture represents one of the great evolutions of ancient Chinese art after the famous Qin Terracotta Army: confronted with the monumental scale of that ensemble, Han artists developed numerous figures of guards, soldiers, servants, musicians, animals and domestic scenes intended to populate authentic underground palaces.
Particularly attractive is the partial preservation of the original polychromy applied in cold paints, extremely vulnerable after about two thousand years of burial.
Material: terracotta with traces of polychromy and engobes.
Dimensions: approx. 46 × 16 × 10 cm.
Condition: archaeological state. It shows wear and loss of polychromy, surface deposits and concretions, cracks and splits, highlighting a broad transverse crack at chest and shoulder height, as well as old joints/repairs. The attributes originally held by the hands have been lost. See photographic documentation in detail.
A piece of great presence and considerable size, representative of one of the fundamental chapters of ancient China's funerary sculpture.
CHINA, HAN DYNASTY (206 BCE–220 CE)
Invoice seen by Catawiki
Important funerary figure of a warrior or guard in polychrome terracotta — Mingqi
Interesting and expressive Chinese funerary figure in polychrome terracotta, representing a standing warrior or guard, belonging to the sculptural tradition developed during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE).
The figure appears upright and frontal, dressed in a long robe with wide sleeves over trousers, preserving substantial remains of its old pictorial decoration in dark tones, cream and red. The red diagonal band crossing the torso stands out in particular.
The right arm is flexed and raised, with the hand clenched, while the left descends along the body. This arrangement indicates that originally the figure would have held weapons, staffs or other attributes made separately, currently lost, a common circumstance in this type of funerary sculptures.
The face, conceived in a deliberately schematic yet expressive manner, features eyes, nose and mouth modestly modeled, topped by a distinctive headdress.
These figures, known as mingqi, formed part of the extraordinary funerary universe of Han China. They were deposited in the tombs of high-ranking individuals to symbolically reproduce in the Beyond the retinue, the servants and the elements of daily life that the deceased had enjoyed.
Han funerary sculpture represents one of the great evolutions of ancient Chinese art after the famous Qin Terracotta Army: confronted with the monumental scale of that ensemble, Han artists developed numerous figures of guards, soldiers, servants, musicians, animals and domestic scenes intended to populate authentic underground palaces.
Particularly attractive is the partial preservation of the original polychromy applied in cold paints, extremely vulnerable after about two thousand years of burial.
Material: terracotta with traces of polychromy and engobes.
Dimensions: approx. 46 × 16 × 10 cm.
Condition: archaeological state. It shows wear and loss of polychromy, surface deposits and concretions, cracks and splits, highlighting a broad transverse crack at chest and shoulder height, as well as old joints/repairs. The attributes originally held by the hands have been lost. See photographic documentation in detail.
A piece of great presence and considerable size, representative of one of the fundamental chapters of ancient China's funerary sculpture.
Details
Culture
Ancient Chinese, Han dynasty
Century/timeframe
200 ac
Name of object
Mingqi warrior
Acquired from
Gallery / Antique dealer
Year acquired
2006
Material
Terracotta
Country acquired from
Hong Kong
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Gallery / Antique dealer
Height
46 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
1950
Width
16 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
China
Depth
10 cm
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Refurbished original
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
