Elegant Han Dynasty Grey Terracotta Horse, TL Tested in Germany

A massive pottery horse with separately made head and tail, standing on all fours and striding with its right hoof forward. Extended snout ends in parted lips showing teeth beneath i...

Huge hollow molded terracotta, standing male figure wearing a hip-length multi-layered robe with a collared neck. Implements suspended from his waist, holding a staff in his right ha...

A stunning set of 5 graceful terracotta figurines from the Ming Dynasty '1368-1644' AD. These elegant attendants are standing on a yellow glazed lotus flower over a high hexagonal green plinth and wear fine robes in matching green and yellow glazes. The unglazed areas have pigmented colors in red, black and white. Each is carrying essential offerings for the royal family. The head is detachable as often seen on the larger figures from this period. Meticulously detailed facial expressions have been hand-painted. Condition: Mint, finely preserved glaze and pigment, undamaged and no repairs. Provenance: Ex. Danish Collection. This set is guaranteed authentic and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and TL Test from Laboratory Kotalla in Germany (The Oldest Thermoluminescence Testing Laboratory in the World). Dimensions: Average 54 H cms Burial figurines of graceful dancers, mystical beasts, and everyday objects reveal both how people in early China approached death and how they lived. Since people viewed the afterlife as an extension of worldly life, these figurines, called mingqi, sometimes referred as “spirit utensils” or “vessels of ghosts” disclose details of routine existence and provide insights into belief systems over a thousand-year period. The Ming dynasty was the ruling dynasty of China – then known as the Empire of the Great Ming – for 276 years (1368–1644 AD). Founded by Chu Yuan-chang, the rebel leader that was successful in removing the mongols from the throne. Chinese control was re-asserted in China and eastern Asia. Literature became more important, schools were created, and the justice system was reformed. The Ming dynasty is described by some as "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history,” was the last imperial dynasty in China ruled by ethnic Han Chinese. The practice of burying ceramic objects with the deceased went into decline from the 10th to the 14th Century AD. There was a revival in placing miniature representations of glazed terracotta objects such a furniture, food offerings, horses, miniature statues...

Very expressive Imperial Court singer dressed in elegant ceremonial robes with long sleeves and hands in motion. Gray terracotta. Thermoluminescense Test by Ralph Kotalla Lab NE: 05K091003 (Worldwide oldest private laboratory specialized in TL testing...

Magnificent standing horse in orange terracotta and traces of painting. With a finely decorated saddle and with the mane and tail hair braided. TL Test by Ralph Kotalla Lab NE: 09K12...

Impressive terracotta warrior representing a banner bearer gripping a wooden staff with his hands (dematerialized through the ages); his gaze is ser...

A massive Chinese Han dynasty Sichuan terracotta pottery figure of a horse Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) Powerfully modelled in a pose of alert attention, its strong neck and head po...

Chinese Han Dynasty Terracotta Fighting Dog. During the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD), terracotta dogs were placed at a grave site in order to protec...

A large terracotta rabbit that is depicted in an extremely naturalistic manner, characteristic of Han Dynasty artistic practice. It is depicted in a recumbent pose, ears bent backwar...

A beautiful terracotta bird that stands on a pair of well-defined bronze legs with large, splaying feet. These support a globular body and slender neck, stretched forwards. The remai...

Tombs of the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) were typically furnished with model figures and other objects believed to be necessary for a safe journey to the afterlife. Historical records indicate that when important military officials died, the imperial Han court would give them elaborate funerals, including a full military cortege. It is likely that this figure of a horse and rider was originally part of a model funerary retinue comprised of soldiers and cavalrymen that would have been placed in such a tomb. Beautifully proportioned Han dynasty polychrome painted terracotta horse and rider. The warrior is decorated with a painted orange and black tunic. A quiver is visible attached to his back. He would have originally held a wooden bow in between his hands that has rotted away over the centuries. He is riding a beautifully sculpted white horse. TL tested...

An elegant hollow-moulded terracotta horse. This horse is modelled in a standing pose with its neck elegantly arched and its ears pricked forward attentively. The mane is indicated with the use of a scalloped red design with white dotted details. The head is well modelled with notched ears pricked on either side of a feather ornament, with a tasselled rope looped around the top of the neck and tufted ornaments on the chest collar, the back is covered with a long red cloth with white dotted detailing, gathered at the bottom atop the flaring mudguard. The rump is encircled by a series of intricate tassels, attached to a tufted back piece. This terracotta may represent a horse fitted for a parade. Horses were an important status symbol in ancient China. These animals were brought to China via the Silk Road and were considered luxury goods. As such horses were a sign of wealth among the elite, and there were strict laws which restricted the ownership of horses to people of elevated rank. In fact, soldiers serving in China’s military...