Lot 68
East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A hollow and mold-made terracotta mingqi figure depicting a pig with a bristle mane and stout body - plentiful meat for consumption. Pigs are symbols of wealth and were incorporated into burial rituals and tombs to accompany and provide for the deceased in the afterlife, and jade pigs were sometimes placed directly in the hands of the deceased! Mingqi are figurines that represent necessities and comforts the deceased needs to continue in the afterlife, and a fat pig such as this would be an ideal animal for farming and as a symbol of virility. Size: 6.75" L x 3" W x 3.5" H (17.1 cm x 7.6 cm x 8.9 cm)
The Han Dynasty was a period of wealth and stability for China, and the burial places of their rulers reflected this prosperity - inside of burial mounds, hundreds and sometimes thousands of pottery figures were placed, recreating the daily life of the Emperor's court or a noble person's world. Tomb companions like this one are part of a class of artifacts called "mingqi" - sometimes known as "spirit utensils" or "vessels for ghosts." Ming qi became popular during the Han Dynasty and would persist for several centuries afterwards. Alongside animal figures like this one were musicians, athletes, structures
everything the deceased interacted with in life. Even though they were mass-produced, mingqi 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.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Dr. Tanja Former collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 1990s; ex-Art Ancient International, Vero Beach, Florida, USA
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#176553
- Condition: Chip and stable fissure on neck seam and softening to details. Otherwise intact and very good condition. Light earthen and mineral deposits on the surface. Great condition.
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