No. 99465157

Ancient Chinese, Han dynasty Terracotta Head of an Official (No reserve price)
No. 99465157

Ancient Chinese, Han dynasty Terracotta Head of an Official (No reserve price)
A finely modelled Chinese, Han Dynasty terracotta head of a male, probably once a part of a larger statuette. The head is decorated by a distinct and elaborate headdress, typical for Han court officials. The face features large eyes, wide nose, a wide mouth. Some remnants of original pigment are still evident. There are signs of ageing such as hairline cracks, particularly to the top and the back of the head. Chips and perforations to the right-hand side of the face, near the ear.
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China (206 BC–220 AD), and its art is notable for aiming to give form to everyday people and objects. It was a period of significant economic growth, and this facilitated discovery and innovation: technical possibilities in the arts increased as a result, enabling artists to push boundaries. The art of the Han dynasty is largely decorative, a shift away from the functional, ritualistic art of the previous Qin dynasty. 'Stickman' statuettes are characterised by their elongated and slender form, and would have originally acted much like dolls, with cloth garments and wooden, detachable arms. Some examples would have portrayed the figure completely nude, with long legs moulded together with the body; other examples show the figure wearing a short tunic, with legs separately moulded in clay.
Measurements: H9cm x Depth 6cm x W 4.5cm
Provenance: The C. Roger Moss OBE collection.
N.B. Delivery may be longer due to the busier period and we do not guarantee delivery before Christmas. Items paid for after the 19th December will be shipped after the New Year (week commencing on the 5th January 2026). **There will be an additional fee incurred for returned shipments due to buyer’s non-response to customs enquiries and/or unsuccessful delivery attempts.**
Similar objects
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
This object was featured in
How to buy on Catawiki
1. Discover something special
2. Place the top bid
3. Make a secure payment

