Ancient Chinese, Tang Dynasty Terracotta Minqi. With TL Te - 18,7 cm (No reserve price)

Chinese Terracotta Dignitary – Sui Dynasty – 18.7 cm – Test TL Kotalla

Elegant Chinese funerary statuette representing a dignitary standing, attributed to the Sui Dynasty (581–618 AD). This piece captivates with the finesse of its modeling, its serene expression and its slender silhouette, characteristic of Chinese funerary art at the dawn of the great Tang era.

Its 18.7 cm size makes it a particularly interesting object for collectors of ancient ceramics: compact enough to be displayed in a cabinet while retaining a sculptural presence and remarkable details.

A witness to Chinese funerary art

The figure is depicted in a solemn pose, hands joined in front of the body. It wears a long robe with vertical folds, whose sober lines emphasize the elongation of the silhouette, as well as a characteristic headdress.

The face is one of the main attractions of the piece. The delicately drawn eyes, the nose, the mouth and the contours of the face give it an individualized expression, far from a merely schematic representation.

The Sui Dynasty, relatively brief, holds an essential place in Chinese history: it reunites the country after several centuries of division and directly precedes the artistic flourishing of the Tang dynasty. Mingqi from this period testify to this stylistic transition and to the importance given to funerary furnishings.

Surface and conservation

The terracotta presents beautiful beige and ochre tones, animated by traces of polychromy, deposits and variations in patina. These nuances highlight the volumes of the face, the headdress and the clothing.

The statuette retains its hollow base, visible in the photographs, as well as signs of age and small alterations. The whole offers a complete reading of the figure, with a harmonious silhouette and a strong decorative presence.

Thermoluminescence dating

The piece comes from a group of three Chinese statuettes that underwent thermoluminescence analysis conducted by the Ralf Kotalla laboratory, in Haigerloch, Germany, on 29 September 2021.

Report No. 180921 concludes a prehistoric firing of the analyzed samples and estimates their last firing at 1,420 years ago, with a margin of ± 16%. It mentions an attribution to the Sui period.

The sample corresponding to this statuette is identified as originating from the base of the right-hand figure’s robe. The report includes a photograph of the three figures together and the scientific results.

This documentation is a particularly valuable element for a statuette of this size, providing scientific support for its chronological attribution.

Characteristics

* Origin: China
* Period: Sui Dynasty, 581–618 AD
* Type: Mingqi, funerary statuette
* Subject: Standing dignitary
* Material: Terracotta
* Height: 18.7 cm
* Width: 4.6 cm
* Thickness: 4.2 cm
* Weight: 177 grams
* TL Report: Ralf Kotalla, No. 180921
* Report date: 29 September 2021

Condition and provenance

Condition as per detailed photographs, which are an integral part of the description. Wear, deposits, traces of polychromy and small alterations visible.

Provenance: private collection, France. Piece from a group of three statuettes documented by the TL Kotalla 2021 report.

Shipping

The statuette will be carefully protected in packaging suitable for antique objects and shipped with tracking and insurance. A copy of the thermoluminescence report and the available documents will accompany the item.