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 warrior or terracotta guard — 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 appears upright and frontal, dressed in a long tunic with wide sleeves over trousers, preserving significant traces of its ancient pictorial decoration in dark, cream and red tones. Notably, the diagonal red band crossing the torso.

The right arm is flexed and raised, with the hand clenched, while the left arm descends along the body. This arrangement suggests 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, conceived deliberately schematic yet expressive, features eyes, nose and mouth modestly modeled, crowned by a distinctive headdress.

These figures, known as mingqi, formed part of the extraordinary funerary universe of Han China. They were placed in the tombs of high-status individuals to symbolically replicate in the Beyond the entourage, the servants and the elements of daily life the deceased had enjoyed.

Han funerary sculpture represents one of the great evolutions of ancient Chinese art after the famous Qin Terracotta Army: in contrast to the monumentality 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 tones, extremely vulnerable after about two thousand years of burial.

Material: terracotta with traces of polychromy and engobes.

dimensions: 46 × 16 × 10 cm approx.

Conservation status: archaeological state. Shows wear and loss of polychromy, deposits and surface concreations, cracks and fissures, highlighting a wide transversal 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 funeral sculpture of ancient China.

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.