Lot 59
East Asia, China, Han dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. An impressive pottery figure of a horse groom, rendered in fine, naturalistic detail with a slender body dressed in a long-sleeved robe that flares out at his knees beneath a dotted vest. Gazing forth from slender eyes above a broad nose and straight mouth, his expression is both calm and dignified, as he holds out his hand, presumably to grasp the reins of his noble steed. During this period of Chinese history, horses came from the Ferghama Valley in Central Asia - present day Afghanistan. When elite individuals passed away, large "walking" terracotta Ferghama horses were created to carry the deceased into the hereafter. This horse groom likely functioned to care for the steed in the tomb of an elite individual. Size: 2.8" W x 8.7" H (7.1 cm x 22.1 cm); 9.9" H (25.1 cm) on included custom stand.
Tomb statues like this horse are part of a class of artifacts called mingqi - sometimes known as "spirit utensils" or "vessels for ghosts." They became popular in the Han Dynasty and would persist for several centuries. Alongside figures like this one were musicians, athletes, animals, structures? Even though they were mass produced, mingqi of the Han Dynasty often show a high level of detail and naturalism. These were designed to assist the po, the part of the soul of the deceased that remained underground with the body while the hun, the other part of the soul, ascended. Caring for the po seems to have taken on a new level of meaning in the Han period, with more elaborate rituals and tomb construction arising.
Provenance: private Vero Beach, Florida, USA collection, acquired before 2003
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#181147
- Condition: Professional repair and restoration to arms with repainted over break lines. Expected minor nicks and abrasions, commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent presentation with nice remaining pigments and detail.
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