**Originally Listed At $1600**
East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A fantastic pottery model of a single-story house with a gable roof, verandah, and entrance- an architecturally correct dwelling for a person in the Han Dynasty. The surface has light remains of pigment and the underside as 6 evenly spaced holes perhaps for elevating the building on stilts or feet. This miniature house was part of funerary practice, and was made to be placed into a tomb as a representation of a real home. In conjunction with literary records, house models like this provide valuable information about Chinese architecture from this early time period. So funerary edifices like this example, in addition to providing an understanding of early Chinese belief in an afterlife, also tell us much about the architecture and technology of the period. Size: 15" L x 10" W x 10.5" H (38.1 cm x 25.4 cm x 26.7 cm)
Although no Han Dynasty domestic edifices have survived, ceramic models of houses that were deposited in Han tombs provide a greater window of understanding about Chinese residential architecture as well as construction techniques used during this period. Models such as this example were created to represent everything from humble pig pens to multi-level watch towers to the most luxurious palaces. They were placed in tombs of the deceased in order to provide for the departed soul - ensuring that his / her needs would be met in the afterlife. In addition to architectural models, sculptures of musicians, animals, dancing figures, horses, oil lamps, and other items of daily life were created for the funerary environment. Although China’s pottery-making tradition began well before the Han dynasty, it was during this period that the most sophisticated techniques arose allowing for extensive production of works for both utilitarian and ceremonial use.
Provenance: private Vero Beach, Florida, USA collection, acquired before 2003
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#177416
Condition
Excellent. Stable fissures on verandah pillars.