Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man
Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man

Han Dynasty Chinese Pottery Head of a Man

17662

$795
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Circa 206 BC – AD 220

A finely modeled earthenware head of a man from a Chinese tomb figure (mingqi), created as a burial good for a high-status individual during the Han Dynasty. The face is sensitively rendered with a rounded cranium, a strong straight nose, defined ears, and softly modeled lips. The surface has weathered to the bare ceramic, with earthy burial encrustation and the warm grey-buff tone characteristic of ancient interred pottery — a quiet, sculptural presence that reads beautifully on a shelf, desk, or in a cabinet of antiquities.

During the Han Dynasty, hundreds of pottery figures were placed in elite tombs to recreate the world of the deceased, spawning a vast workshop industry across China. Modeled human heads such as this survive as evocative fragments of that funerary tradition.

Dimensions: 4¼ in. (10.8 cm) high; 6 in. (15.2 cm) high on later wood block base

Condition: Head fragment as shown; surface erosion and burial deposits consistent with age; mounted on a nice cherry color custom wood base.

The head retains a rich layer of old collection history, including an inked accession number "70.218" on both the head and its base, paper inventory labels numbered "359" and "101," a painted "CHINA" notation, and a red Chinese seal/dealer label to the underside — the kind of accumulated markings consistent with a long-held early collection. Acquired from the estate of a US Doctor. 

Every object is guaranteed authentic and as described, and has been legally acquired and imported in accordance with U.S. and applicable foreign regulations on the movement and sale of antiquities. A signed certificate of authenticity with a description and photograph accompanies this object. Any restoration is described on the invoice.

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