Chinese Funerary Figures

Impressive Funeral Ensamble of 10 Terracotta Glazed Figures in green and caramel colors depicting a votive procession with a palanquin, his four carriers, a horse, a stableman, two musicians, and an offering carrier. This ensemble is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, and Certificate of Expertise by Jean-Yves Nathan - Specialist in Asian Arts for the CEDEA (The European Confederation of Art Experts). 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...

Molded of earthenware, this set of five petite sculptures are a type of centuries-old burial figurine known as míngqì. Such model figures were placed in tombs of individuals with hig...

Pair of 19th century Chinese hand decorated porcelain scholar figures. Stunning pair of well executed hand decorated Chinese porcelain figures...

A Chinese Ming dynasty period ancient roof tile with turquoise finish, crane and flower. Created in China during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), this ancient roof tile features a turqu...

Chinese Jin Dynasty 12th Century Cizhou Ware Crouching Tiger Pottery Pillow .Tiger pillow, Jin dynasty, 12th century (circa 1150) The pillow is assembled ...

A striking Chinese Neolithic to Bronze Age burnished red pottery double handled saddle mouth storage jar, Siwa Culture (circa 1500 to 1100 BC), modern day Gansu Province, China. ...