Ancient Chinese, Han Dynasty Pottery Duck Figure Circa 1st century BC A beautiful pottery duck standing on detailed bronze legs. The hollow-moulded body tapers gracefully towards the tail, while the wings are neatly folded along the body. The elongated neck extends upward, terminating in a small head, accentuated by circular eyes and a pointed beak slightly raised. This duck figure aligns with the tradition of mingqi, encompassing various pottery models of everyday objects and domestic animals buried with deceased. The prevailing belief was that life after death mirrored the present existence. Consequently, the deceased were equipped with a plethora of objects deemed essential for a seamless continuation of life beyond the mortal realm. Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 2015.500.7.8a, b Dimensions: 21cm x 19,5cm x 9cm Provenance: Private European Collection; formerly acquired from old UK and European collection formed since the 1970s. Disclaimer: NO SHIPPING OUTSIDE of THE EUROPEAN UNION. All items will be shipped from Belgium. The seller guarantees and can prove that the object was obtained legally. The seller was informed by Catawiki that they had to provide the documentation required by the laws and regulations in their country of residence. The seller guarantees and is entitled to sell/export this object. The seller will provide all provenance information known about the object to the buyer. The seller ensures that any necessary permits are/will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer immediately about any delays in obtaining such permits. The seller will not ship outside the EU. Catawiki disclaimer: This piece has been dated based on style by the seller . No further tests, such as, a TL test, analysis of metals(XRF-test), lapidary tests, analysis of pigments or radiography scans have been conducted to check the integrity of the piece.