Chinese, Ming Dynasty green glazed terracotta Tomb Figurine - 18.6 cm (No reserve price)

"Chinese Ming Dynasty Green-Glazed Terracotta Female Tomb Attendant (Mingqi)

Culture / Period: Chinese, Ming Dynasty
Date / Period: 14th–17th century
Material: Green-glazed terracotta
Dimensions: 186 mm
Condition: Good condition

No shipping outside theEuropean Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within theEuropean Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 865

The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the Tomb Figurine from J.v.S. in 's-Gravenhage.

The previous owner, J.v.S. from 's-Gravenhage (The Netherlands), stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in The Netherlands since the 1990s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This green-glazed terracotta tomb figurine, known as a mingqi ("spirit object"), dates to the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Mingqi were created exclusively for burial and were placed inside tombs to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. These figures reflect the long-standing Chinese belief that the comforts, protection, and social structure of earthly life would continue beyond death.

The present figure depicts a finely dressed female attendant or court lady standing gracefully in flowing robes with a high coiffure. Her elegant costume, refined facial features, and composed posture reflect the ideals of dignity and status associated with women of the imperial court or noble households. Female attendants such as this were frequently included in elite burials together with male officials, servants, musicians, guardians, and animals, symbolically recreating the household of the deceased.

During the Ming Dynasty, the production of glazed terracotta funerary figures was carried out in specialised workshops. The figures were generally moulded before being carefully finished by hand, with individual facial features, hairstyles, and garments adding character to each example. Lead glazes in green, amber, cream, and brown were applied before firing, producing the rich colours that have become characteristic of Ming funerary ceramics.

The Ming Dynasty was one of China's most prosperous and artistically accomplished periods, marked by flourishing craftsmanship, strong imperial authority, and a deep respect for ancestral traditions. Tomb furnishings from this era illustrate the importance of ancestor veneration and the belief that attendants and household members would continue to serve the deceased in the next world.

This example provides a direct and tangible connection to the funerary customs, artistic traditions, and spiritual beliefs of Ming Dynasty China, where figures of this kind played an essential role in honouring the deceased and ensuring their comfort and status in the afterlife."