An ancient Chinese terracotta figurine of a male worker dating to the Han Dynasty. He is portrayed carrying a vat vessel over his shoulder and with his head tilted to the left to accommodate the large bowl. He holds on to another smaller vessel with his right arm. He wears the 'qu ju pao' (曲裾袍), a traditional Han Dynasty dress comprising of a mid-length outer garment with wide sleeves and a tapering hem. This figurine belongs to a type of terracotta workers called 'kang gang yong' (扛罐俑), which means ‘vessel carrying figurines’. The piece has been repaired with a crack visible across the waist. Such figurines were made as burial objects and grave goods to be placed in the tomb, often as a larger group forming a procession for the deceased. Figures of this type are called mingqi in Chinese and usually depict workers, servants, officials, soldiers, musicians, court attendants, dancers and animals. Grave goods were an important status symbol in ancient China, and such terracotta figures were made for the service and entertainment of the owner, ensuring that their journey in the underworld was a happy one. Measurements: H 15.2cm x L 5.6cm x W 4.5cm Provenance: Private UK Collection Catawiki disclaimer: This piece has been dated based on style and patina. No further tests, such as, a TL test, an analysis of pigments or radiography scans have been conducted to check the integrity of the piece.