Ancient Chinese, Han dynasty Terracotta Rare Minqi Court Lady Terracotta Figurine – TL Tested – 2,000 Years Old – 30.5 - 30.5 cm (No reserve price)

Ancient China — Supposed Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE)

Remarkable 30.5 cm tall Chinese terracotta female figurine, notable for its beautiful unusually slender silhouette and an exceptionally long robe, widely flared to the ground.

This singular composition, pairing a delicately modeled torso with a monumental long robe, gives the work a sculptural presence that is particularly elegant.

The statuette is accompanied by a thermoluminescence report from the German laboratory Ralf Kotalla, signed January 9, 2004, estimating the firing age at 2,000 years (± 20%).

A singular silhouette and a robe of great elegance

This feminine figure immediately draws the eye with its remarkable proportions.

Her relatively short torso contrasts with a long robe that gradually widens to form a broad flared base. This clothing feature, uncommon in its composition, emphasizes the sculpture’s verticality and elegance.

The arms are brought together in front of the body, hidden beneath wide sleeves with deeply sculpted folds.

The rounded face presents a sweet, serene expression. The eyes are delicately drawn, the small mouth, and the peaceful bearing attest to refined modeling.

The head is framed by a hairstyle or veil falling over the shoulders.

The surface retains a patina with beige, ochre, and brown hues, accompanied by deposits and traces of light pigments.

Overall, it offers a pronounced decorative presence, dominated by the breadth and fluidity of its garment.

A court lady in the Mingqi tradition of the Han dynasty

This statuette can be linked to the Chinese Mingqi tradition, these funerary figures intended to accompany the deceased in the afterlife.

During the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE), tombs of high-ranking figures housed representations of servants, ladies of the court, musicians, and dancers.

These figurines formed a true miniature court, symbolically prolonging the comfort, prestige, and social rank of the deceased in the other world.

Female representations notably demonstrate the refinement of clothing, coiffures, and court life in imperial China.

This figure stands out for the particularly pronounced development of its robe, whose elongated lines create a graceful silhouette that is immediately recognizable.

It is a evocative testament to China’s ancient artistic and funerary traditions.

Thermoluminescence – Ralf Kotalla Laboratory, Germany

The statuette benefits from ancient scientific documentation, issued by the German laboratory Ralf Kotalla.

The definitive report, signed January 9, 2004, concludes an ancient firing of the terracotta estimated at 2,000 years, with an uncertainty of ± 20%.

This estimation is chronologically compatible with the Han period, to which the object is presumptively assigned.

Two samples were taken directly from the statuette:

- At the back of the lower part.
- At the back of the head.

The report includes a laboratory identification photograph, as well as the associated analytic documents.

Certificate information:
- Laboratory: Ralf Kotalla, Haigerloch, Germany
- Reference: 04131203
- Date: January 9, 2004
- Result: Fired in antiquity – Ancient firing
- Estimated age: 2,000 years ± 20%
- Object described: terracotta figurine
- Mentioned height: approximately 31 cm
- Origin indicated: China

This document, created more than twenty years ago, is an important element for the study and presentation of this sculpture.

Thermoluminescence allows estimating the firing age of the analyzed samples, without in itself establishing the definitive dynastic attribution of the object.

Dimensions and characteristics

Height: 30.5 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Depth: 18 cm
Weight: 1,756 grams
Material: terracotta
Origin indicated: China
Proposed dating: supposes Han dynasty

Secure packaging and insured shipping:

The statuette will be shipped with the utmost care, in a rigid box specifically prepared and adapted to its dimensions.

Reinforced protective packaging, including buffering materials and protective foams, will ensure its immobilization during transport to minimize shock risks.

Shipping will be carried out with tracking and insurance covering the value of the object, subject to the carrier’s terms.

The original Kotalla thermoluminescence report and its analytic documents will also be carefully protected and enclosed with the shipment.

Special attention will be given to the security of this ancient terracotta so that it reaches its buyer in optimal conditions."