A Sui or Early Tang Straw Glazed Pottery Figure of a Standing Attendant

Sui Dynasty or Early Tang 7th Century

A Sui or Early Tang Pottery Figure of an Attendant, North China, 7th century. This elegant Mingqi pottery figure has a cowl over his head, this is tied from behind. The moulding is shallow but very finely delineated, the greenish straw-coloured glaze is thick and finely crazed. The rough unglazed interior of this figure exhibits extensive construction marks including luting-lines with excessive slip. To read more about Mingqi pottery look below the photograph gallery.

SOLD

 

Condition
In very good condition, the glaze is finely crazed, minor wear.
Size
Height 20.5 cm (8 inches).
Provenance
N/A
Stock number
25755

Photos

Information

Mingqi Pottery :
This piece is an example of Mingqi, objects made specifically for burial, to be taken with you to the afterlife. The `Terracotta Army` is the most famous example of this type of burial object. Mingqi objects represented people, houses, farms, granaries, livestock and indeed anything important from this world that would give you comfort and status in the next. The `Terracotta Army` were made life size and on a vast scale, reflecting the importance of the first emperor of China but most Mingqi objects were small models, far smaller than the object or indeed person they were meant to represent. Mingqi ceramics were not the only goods to appear in early Chinese tombs, objects that functioned were also buried, some of these had clearly been worn or even damaged, presumably these objects were prized possessions belonging to the deceased that might have been used on a daily basis.