Lot 167, Auction 4/3/2026: Han Glass Burial Suit Tiles, ex-Skinner & ex-Ellsworth

$520.00

In stock

East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A rare and intriguing assemblage of calcified glass burial plaques, once forming part of a funerary garment designed to protect and preserve the body in the afterlife. Composed primarily of rectangular tiles, many with perforations at the corners, these pieces were originally strung or sewn together to create a flexible covering, echoing the construction of more elite jade burial suits. The surfaces, now softened by age and mineral transformation, retain traces of molded decoration, including relief imagery on select examples. Their varied shapes – rectangular, irregular, and fragmentary – reflect both their original diversity and the passage of time, while their pale, weathered tones speak to long burial within tomb environments. Size of largest: 2.3″ L x 1.8″ W (5.8 cm x 4.6 cm)

Glass burial suits are directly tied to the tradition of jade suits of the Han dynasty, which were reserved for high-ranking individuals. These glass counterparts, sharing identical forms and construction methods, were likely produced as more accessible alternatives, maintaining the same symbolic purpose of bodily preservation and spiritual protection. Together, this group offers a compelling glimpse into Han funerary practice, where material, belief, and craftsmanship converge in objects intended not for the living, but for eternity.

A group of 18 Han Dynasty glass burial suit tiles also from the Ellsworth collection hammered $2,200 at Ancient Objects in Cranston, Rhode Island on May 8th, 2021 as lot 296.

Condition: All are fragile and fragmentary with chipping and losses. Some have been repaired with break lines visible. Weathering to surfaces and rich patina throughout.

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection, acquired in May 2024; ex-Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers, Cranston, Rhode Island, USA; ex-Robert Hatfield Ellsworth collection; ex-Skinner, Inc., October 20, 2007, lot 663

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all purchases.

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