Lot 176a, Auction 4/20/2026: Chinese Sui-Tang Straw Glazed Mingqi Attendant Figure

$585.00

In stock

East Asia, China, Sui to Tang Dynasty, ca. 581 to 907 CE. A mold-made pottery mingqi figure of a robed attendant, depicted with serene facial features and hands clasped against the chest. Such figures were traditionally placed in tombs as symbolic companions for the deceased. The figure is coated in a pale, creamy beige glaze – its distinctive hue achieved through the use of straw ash in the firing process, a technique that imparts a softly luminous finish. Over time, the surface has developed areas of craquelure and earthen deposits, enhancing its ancient character and testament to centuries of burial and preservation. Size: 3.25″ W x 10.5″ H (8.3 cm x 26.7 cm)

Condition: Chips and small losses to the base rim / glaze layers that pooled on the edge. Figure is otherwise intact. Fading and losses to glaze, but nice areas of iridescence.

Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005

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.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.