Lot 42B
East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A hollow glazed pottery figure of a dog with a fox-like body, sculpted to have pointed ears, wide eyes, and a long snout. His body is also long, with a wide, puffed-up tail and some details of the musculature of his legs. The body has a rich reddish-brown glaze. This charming fellow may represent a beloved pet of the deceased. Size: 7" L x 1.5" W x 4.25" H (17.8 cm x 3.8 cm x 10.8 cm)
Tomb attendants 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 a dog like this one would have been 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 Florida, USA collection
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#126954
- Condition: Intact, with excellent remaining detail.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
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| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |