HAN DYNASTY (206 BC – AD 220) Length 52 cm; Height 26 cm -Premium Authenticity Guarantee – Becker Antiques (Established 1966) This is a high-value artwork, selected with the utmost care by Becker Antiques, a gallery founded in 1966 and based in a historic five-storey mansion in Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter. Every premium piece we offer undergoes a rigorous authentication process based on nearly 60 years of specialist expertise. This includes: • Detailed stylistic and typological analysis • Assessment of condition, surface, and age-related characteristics • Comparative research with museum and literature examples We guarantee that this object is genuine, original, and exactly as described, with no modern, altered, or assembled elements unless clearly mentioned in the listing. Becker Antiques is trusted by museums, collectors, and institutions worldwide. Each premium item is chosen for its authenticity, historical integrity, and exceptional quality. For serious collectors or institutions wishing to receive additional documentation, we are always happy to assist. -Scientific Authentication – TL Test This pottery item has been authenticated using Thermoluminescence Testing (TL), the internationally recognized scientific method for dating fired ceramic materials. The TL analysis confirms that: • The pottery body was fired in antiquity • The material corresponds to the stated historical period • No modern firing or reconstruction is detected (unless noted) A copy of the TL report (including test number, graph, and laboratory details) accompanies the object and is available for review upon request. TL testing provides independent scientific verification and is an important standard used by museums and serious collectors worldwide. This exceptionally large and superbly preserved pottery ox cart is modeled with remarkable refinement and presents one of the finest examples of its type to appear on the market in recent decades. The powerful ox stands in a steady forward pose, its body rounded and muscular, the head sensitively formed with pronounced muzzle, horns, and expressive eyes. Traces of the original mineral pigments remain clearly visible across the animal and cart, a rare survival that greatly enhances the historical and aesthetic value of the piece. The preservation of these colours—now softly mottled with ancient surface accretions—is of particular importance, as original paint is seldom encountered in such condition on Han pottery vehicles of this scale. The ox is fitted with a long, curved yoke—expertly modeled with naturalistic contours—which seamlessly connects to the substantial cart frame. The cart itself is constructed with meticulous attention to detail: the large, spoked wheels are crisply carved, with deeply recessed hubs and radiating spokes that demonstrate both technical precision and sculptural finesse. The body of the cart rises into an arched canopy, its domed roof preserving extensive original white and buff pigment layers. The canopy’s interior is hollowed, as in excavated examples, and retains much of its ancient earthen patina. Ox-drawn carts (wugu che) formed an essential component of Han funerary assemblages, symbolizing rank, wealth, and the provision of transport in the afterlife. Examples of this size and completeness would have been reserved for tombs of considerable status. While smaller carts are more commonly encountered, this piece—at 52 cm in length—is of monumental scale. The harmonious proportions, refined modeling, and rarity of original pigment elevate it far above the standard corpus of Han mingqi. In quality, presence, and state of preservation, it is exceptional; indeed, pieces of comparable calibre have not appeared in the market in the last 25 years. The craftsmanship is especially notable in the sculpting of the long cart shafts, which curve inward to finely articulated terminals, and in the robust construction of the cart’s side walls and canopy. The overall effect is one of both earthly functionality and ritual idealism, capturing the dignity and quiet strength characteristic of high-quality Han tomb figures. Provenance: Old Dutch Collection, acquired before 1992. Guarantee Guaranteed to be Tang Dynasty, legally acquired and legal to buy and sell under all applicable cultural patrimony laws. A Certificate of Authenticity from Becker Antiques, Amsterdam (specialists in Chinese pottery since 1969), accompanies the piece. Shipping The figure will be professionally packed and dispatched in a custom wooden crate within three working days, shipped by FedEx with full insurance. Condition Note: In very good condition overall for its age. The ox is well-preserved with expected surface abrasion and scattered minor old repairs, mainly to the legs and yoke. The cart structure is stable, with small areas of restoration and typical pigment wear. The canopy retains extensive traces of original white pigment, now softly abraded but secure. The wheels are intact with minor rim wear and light old restoration to the hubs. Overall, an exceptionally complete example with unusually fine preservation of original colours.