Lot 28, Auction 3/19/2026: Pair of Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Tomb Attendants

$650.00

In stock

East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A solemn pair of pottery attendants stands in quiet service, their presence shaped as much by ritual purpose as by human tenderness. Modeled in earthenware with softly rounded forms, these figures embody the Han Dynasty’s vision of the afterlife as an extension of the living world, orderly, hierarchical, and gently watched over. Each attendant is shown standing upright, draped in long robes that fall in simple vertical planes, their silhouettes calm and self-contained. The faces are subtly individualized, with small, pursed mouths, delicately arched brows, and downcast eyes that suggest composure rather than animation. Traces of pigment remain visible, especially in the warm tones of the garments and the faint blush of the faces, offering a glimpse of their original polychrome finish. Size (both about the same): 2.1″ L x 2.7″ W x 7.5″ H (5.3 cm x 6.9 cm x 19 cm)

The figures’ restrained modeling reflects the Han period’s preference for clarity and symbolism over portrait realism. Their role was not to impress but to endure, serving eternally as guardians, servants, or officials within the tomb, ensuring comfort and continuity for the deceased. Such attendants were typically arranged in groups, recreating the social world beyond death with remarkable psychological nuance.

Time has softened their surfaces, lending the clay a mottled patina that speaks to burial and recovery, yet their quiet authority remains intact. Together, this pair offers a compelling window into Han funerary beliefs, where devotion, order, and the rhythms of daily life were carefully translated into clay for eternity.

Condition: Weathering to surfaces commensurate with age, but, otherwise, both are intact and very nice with good remains of pigments.

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; ex-private Los Angeles, California, USA collection; ex-major gallery, Beverly Hills, California, USA, primarily acquired between 1985 and 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.

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