Ancient Chinese, Han dynasty Terracotta Mingqi warrior - 46 cm

CHINA, HAN DYNASTY (206 BC–220 AD)

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Important funerary figure of a terracotta 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 BC–220 AD).

The figure stands upright and frontal, dressed in a long, wide-swinging robe over trousers, retaining substantial remnants of its ancient pictorial decoration in dark tones, cream and red. The diagonal red band across the torso is especially striking.

The right arm appears flexed and raised, with the hand closed, 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 missing, a common circumstance in this type of funerary sculpture.

The face, deliberately schematic yet expressive, features soberly modeled eyes, nose, and mouth, crowned by a characteristic headdress.

These figures, known as mingqi, were part of the extraordinary funerary universe of Han China. They were placed in the tombs of people of rank to symbolically reproduce in the Beyond the entourage, the servants and the elements of daily life that the deceased had enjoyed.

Han funerary sculpture marks one of the great evolutions of ancient Chinese art after the famous Qin terracotta army: in front of the monumentality of that ensemble, Han artists developed numerous figures of guards, soldiers, servants, musicians, animals, and domestic scenes destined to populate authentic underground palaces.

Especially attractive is the partial preservation of the original cold-painting, extremely vulnerable after approximately two thousand years buried.

Material: terracotta with traces of polychromy and engobes.

Dimensions: 46 × 16 × 10 cm approx.

Conservation status: archaeological condition. Shows wear and losses of polychromy, deposits and surface concretions, cracks and fissures, highlighting a wide transverse crack at chest and shoulder level, in addition to ancient 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 Chinese ancient funerary sculpture.

Catawiki disclaimer: This object has been dated based on style by the seller. No further tests, such as a TL test, C14 test, lapidary tests, analysis of pigments or radiography scans have been conducted to check the integrity of the piece.