{"product_id":"han-dynasty-terracotta-funerary-attendant-pair","title":"Pair of Ancient Chinese Terracotta Funerary Attendants | Han Dynasty | Circa 206 BCE – 9 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Context \u0026amp; Origin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e China\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Terracotta with surviving polychrome pigment\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/strong\u003e Attributed to Han Dynasty, likely Western Han, circa 206 BCE–9 CE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDescription\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis remarkable pair of Chinese terracotta standing male funerary figures represents the distinctive elongated “stick figure” tradition associated with the Han Dynasty. Each figure is modeled with an exceptionally slender body, long straight legs, individualized facial features, molded ears, and hair gathered into a compact topknot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe surfaces retain extensive traces of ancient-style polychrome decoration, including salmon-pink, cream, gray, and darker pigment across the bodies, faces, and hair. Painted terracotta and earthenware figures were widely employed within Han funerary contexts, and surviving museum examples demonstrate the extensive use of pigments over ceramic bodies during the period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCircular apertures are present at the shoulders of both figures. Comparable Han funerary figures were originally fitted with separately fashioned wooden arms secured through these openings; archaeological evidence also indicates that some examples were dressed in perishable textile garments. Those organic components rarely survive, leaving the elongated ceramic bodies in the distinctive form now commonly described by collectors as “stick figures.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe figures display subtly differing facial modeling and surface treatment. One preserves a comparatively even salmon-colored surface with strongly defined gray hair, while the other exhibits considerably more weathering and mineralized deposits, with pale cream and pink pigment surviving irregularly across the body.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth figures retain modeled male anatomical details, reinforcing their identification as male attendants or servants rather than female court figures. The calm frontal expressions and rigid standing poses are consistent with funerary attendants intended to accompany and serve the deceased in the afterlife. Han funerary sculpture formed part of the broader tradition of \u003cem\u003emingqi\u003c\/em\u003e — objects specifically created for burial and representation of the material and social world surrounding the deceased.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Elongated “stick figure” body proportions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Surviving salmon-pink, cream, gray, and dark pigment\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Individually modeled facial features\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Hair arranged in raised topknots\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Original shoulder apertures for now-lost wooden arms\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Modeled anatomical details\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Extensive burial-style surface deposits and weathering\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Mounted on custom clear acrylic display stands\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Offered together as a matched pair\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCultural Significance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the Han Dynasty, ceramic tomb figures became an important component of elite burial practice. Known collectively as \u003cem\u003emingqi\u003c\/em\u003e, these objects represented attendants, servants, soldiers, animals, architecture, and other aspects of daily life intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. The Metropolitan Museum notes the increasingly elaborate role such objects played within Han tombs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe unusual construction of figures such as these demonstrates the sophisticated combination of multiple materials employed by Han craftsmen. The terracotta body provided the permanent core, while wooden arms and textile garments could create a more lifelike appearance when originally installed within the tomb. Surviving examples today often appear strikingly minimalist because these organic components have disappeared over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir large scale, surviving pigment, and presentation as a pair make these particularly striking examples of Chinese funerary sculpture and compelling representations of Han-period beliefs concerning service, status, and continuity after death.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAncient condition with extensive age-related wear throughout. Both figures exhibit pigment loss, surface abrasion, mineral deposits, discoloration, earthen encrustation, scratches, chips, small losses, and areas of surface instability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe taller figure exhibits substantial cracking through the upper legs and lower body, including visible horizontal fractures around the thigh, knee, and ankle areas. Additional surface losses and old stabilization may be present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe second figure displays wear and losses around the feet, including damage to the toes and lower extremities, together with surface discoloration and localized cracking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original arms and any textile garments are no longer present, as is typical of comparable figures constructed with perishable components. Both figures are presently supported by later custom acrylic stands with modern metal mounting elements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions (Approximate)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFigure I:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHeight: 24 in\u003cbr\u003eWidth: 3.75 in\u003cbr\u003eDepth: 4 in\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFigure II:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHeight: 23.5 in\u003cbr\u003eWidth: 3.5 in\u003cbr\u003eDepth: 4 in\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge (Approximate)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2,000–2,200 years old\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a private collection in Beverly Hills, California, United States.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSubsequently handled by Toomey \u0026amp; Co. Auctioneers, Chicago, Illinois, a respected auction house specializing in fine art, design, decorative arts, and important private collections. The firm is particularly known for presenting carefully catalogued material across a broad range of historical categories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLearn More\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStudy a closely related Western Han funerary figure preserved by the \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.mbam.qc.ca\/en\/works\/70933\/\" title=\"Western Han Funerary Statuette – Montreal Museum of Fine Arts\"\u003eMontreal Museum of Fine Arts\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCompare this pair with a related set of painted pottery stick figures presented by \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.sothebys.com\/en\/buy\/auction\/2022\/as-it-unfolds-property-from-the-private-collection-of-robin-woodhead\/a-set-of-six-chinese-painted-pottery-stick-men\" title=\"Chinese Painted Pottery Stick Figures – Sotheby’s\"\u003eSotheby’s\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBrowse our \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/collections\/ancient-chinese-artifacts-imperial-relics\" title=\"Ancient Chinese Artifacts and Imperial Relics – Relic \u0026amp; Rarity\"\u003eCollection of Ancient Chinese Artifacts and Imperial Relics\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55911480721730,"sku":null,"price":1500.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0955\/1803\/2194\/files\/First_photo_design_-_2026-08-23T153133.376.png?v=1787566195","url":"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/products\/han-dynasty-terracotta-funerary-attendant-pair","provider":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","version":"1.0","type":"link"}