Ancient Chinese, Han dynasty Terracotta Court lady / funerary assistant in polychrome terracotta, mingqi - 28 cm

China – Mingqi (funerary court attendant) figure – Han Dynasty, probably Western Han, ca. 2nd century BCE–1st century BCE.

Interesting Chinese funerary figure made in molded terracotta, depicting a standing court attendant dressed in a long ceremonial cross-collar robe. The figure adopts the solemn, frontal pose typical of Han funerary sculpture, with arms gathered before the abdomen and hands apparently hidden beneath the wide sleeves.

Stylized and noticeably vertical in proportion, the body is extended by a long robe that elegantly broadens toward the base. The face features deliberately sober modeling, with softly defined features and hair indicated by a dark-pigmented area.

Especially attractive is the preservation of traces of the original polychromy, with red pigment observed on the collar of the garment and a sequence of vertical lines on the sleeves or the forearms gathered before the body. The surface also retains abundant traces of a light preparation or slip, together with earthy deposits and a general patina consistent with an archaeological piece.

The lower part remains hollow and open, revealing the figure’s manufacturing process. It shows surface wear, small losses and chips typical of its age, as well as a visible lateral crack; nonetheless, it preserves the characteristic silhouette in full and a highly appealing sculptural presence.

These figures, known as mingqi (明器), were placed in the tombs of Chinese elite members to represent the servants and court members who would accompany the deceased in the afterlife.

Material: molded terracotta with remnants of slip and red and black polychromy.
Dimensions: 22 x 5 x 5 cm.
Proposed period: Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), probably Western Han, circa 2nd–1st century BCE.
Condition: good considering its age; wear, deposits, losses of polychromy, small flaws and a lateral crack visible in the photographs.
Catawiki disclaimer: This object has been dated based on style by the seller. No further tests, such as TL dating, C14 dating, lapidary tests, analysis of pigments or radiography scans have been conducted to check the integrity of the piece.