Description:

Far East, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A charming terracotta figure of a reclining dog, depicted with one ear perked up and the other flopped slightly down. The dog leans forward and has its tail curled under its body. Its snout is broad, mouth slightly open, and eyes set wide on the head. The pose is naturalistic, and it is easy to imagine that this was a family pet. Size: 7.75" L x 4.1" W x 3.45" H (19.7 cm x 10.4 cm x 8.8 cm)

Tomb figures like this one 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 other animals, musicians, athletes, structures… anything the deceased might need to recreate the world of the living. 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: ex-private English collection

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#121191

  • Condition: Tiny chips to ears, otherwise intact. Small traces of remaining red pigment.

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April 12, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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