古代中国、北斉王朝 Pottery 熱ルミネセンス検査（TL）付きの牛車ジオラマ、極めて希少 - 30.5 cm

ITEM: Ox cart diorama
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Chinese, Northern Qi Dynasty
PERIOD: 550 - 577 A.D
DIMENSIONS: 305 mm x 155 mm x 393 mm
CONDITION: Good condition. Includes Thermoluminescence test by Laboratory KOTALLA (Reference: 03B100523) and Old Certificate of Authenticity from a Dutch gallery
PROVENANCE: Ex Belgian private collection, acquired before 1990s

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity, Export license, Thermoluminescence test by Laboratory KOTALLA (Reference: 03B100523) and Old Certificate of Authenticity from a Dutch gallery

If you bid outside the European Union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks.

Due to the fragility and size of this piece, it can only be shipped within the European Union, United Kingdom and neighbouring countries that can be transported by road by private courier (door to door) and costs 399 euros, 100 euros for Spain.

The Northern Qi Dynasty (550–577) was a brief but culturally explosive period in Chinese history, ruling over the northeastern region during the tumultuous Northern and Southern Dynasties era. Despite its political instability and the notorious reputation of its ruling Gao family for violence and eccentricity, the dynasty served as a vital bridge between the Han and Tang dynasties. Its capital, Ye, became a thriving cosmopolitan center where the elite combined Xianbei nomadic traditions with Han Chinese administration, creating a unique social fabric that fostered rapid innovation in both technology and the arts.

Artistically, the Northern Qi is most celebrated for its distinct transformation of Buddhist sculpture. Moving away from the heavy, linear drapery of the earlier Northern Wei, Northern Qi artists developed a "minimalist" and "columnar" style influenced by Indian Gupta models. Statues from this period—many of which were discovered in the famous Longxing Temple hoard—feature serene, oval faces with "wan" smiles and thin, diaphanous robes that cling to the body like silk. This era also saw the creation of the magnificent Xiangtangshan Caves, where imperial patronage led to the carving of massive limestone Buddhas and intricate relief sculptures that reflected a deep, sophisticated spirituality.

The dynasty’s legacy extends into the decorative arts and architecture, marking the precursor to the "Chinese Renaissance" of the Tang. Northern Qi ceramics saw the birth of white-bodied wares and the early use of green and yellow glazes, which would eventually evolve into the iconic Tang sancai (three-color) pottery. Furthermore, the dynasty was a pioneer in defensive engineering, conscripting millions of laborers to build and repair over 400 kilometers of the Great Wall. This combination of aesthetic refinement and massive infrastructural projects ensures that, despite its short twenty-seven-year duration, the Northern Qi remains one of the most artistically influential periods in East Asian history.