Ancient Chinese, Ming dynasty Pottery Funerary model

Eight miniature glazed funerary objects from the Ming period – (#4895)
Taking care of loved ones in the afterlife was and still is very important to the Chinese people. For thousands of years miniature copies of the things which were used in real life were interred with the dead. During the Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), blue, green, brown and aubergine glazes were used to give pottery objects, also called tile-works, more appeal. The objects were acquired from antiques dealers in Hong Kong in the period 1989-1994 and were formerly part of the Lowlands-collection.

(1) Ingot-shaped cakes
Miniature green and brown glazed pottery dish with unglazed cakes or bread in the shape of ingots. Gold bars symbolized a wish for prosperity. These foodstuffs are very well detailed. They were often placed on a table together with other food items. A brown ribbon ties them together. Diameter dish 5.4 cm. Height including cakes 5.9 cm. Length of the cakes 6.0 cm.

(2) Kaki or pomegranates on a saucer
Miniature green and amber glazed dish with fruits. We believe that these fruits are persimmons also known as kaki (柿). But they may also be pomegranates. Diameter dish 4.6 cm. Height including fruits 6.4 cm.

(3) Vase in two colors
Miniature green and brown glazed pottery model of a vase. The interior of the vase is glazed in a brown color. The vase is of a simple design and has no bottom. Diameter at the rim 2.4 cm. Diameter at the base 3.2 cm. Height 7.0 cm.

(4) Pig's head
Miniature green glazed pottery dish with a brown glazed pig’s head. This pig’s head is unusually small. The dish has a chip. Objects such as this were placed on a table together with other food items. They were quite often attached to a table with their glaze. Diameter dish 5.0 cm. Height including head 3.2 cm.

(5) Tofu
Miniature green glazed pottery dish with three rectangular straw-glazed food items. Are these blocks of tofu, or bread, or cake? Miniature pottery foodstuffs were often placed on a table together with other food items. Diameter dish 5.3 cm. Height including food 3.8 cm.

(6) Round cakes
Miniature partly green glazed pottery dish with round cakes or bread. Traces on the cakes show that they were originally cold-painted. Diameter dish 4.5 cm. Height including cakes 3.9 cm.

(7) Cone-shaped food item
Miniature light brown and green glazed pottery dish with a pointed food item which may either be a pudding or perhaps ice cream. The dish has some calcite deposits on the glaze. Diameter dish 4.0 cm. Height including food 3.3 cm.

(8) Bowl and saucer
Miniature green and amber glazed pottery model of a bowl with saucer. Saucer and bowl are fixed together. The interior of the bowl is glazed in an amber color. The object is finely potted. Diameter at the rim 2.5 cm. Diameter saucer 4.6 cm. Height 2.1 cm.

THE LAST PHOTO SHOWS THE COMPLETE COLLECTION. The blue box is NOT (!!!), repeat NOT included in the sale.

WE PREFER NOT TO SELL OR SHIP TO AMERICA BECAUSE OF THE COMPLICATED IMPORT PROCEDURE !!!