Chinese Han Dynasty Terracotta Standing Guardian Figure

About Auction

Live

Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic Art

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 31, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-10-31 10:00:00 2019-10-31 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-art-4581
Our Halloween Day auction features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe, plus fine art. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

View Full Catalog (467)

• Lot Description
  East Asia, China, West Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 8 CE. A large, hand-built terracotta human figure with lengthy, delineated legs. The figure stands nude with male genitalia beneath a slender torso and features lightly rounded pectoral muscles, recessed mortises for articulated arms, and a slender neck. The bulbous head features almond-shaped eyes, a petite nose, pursed lips, and tall ears, all beneath a coiffure drawn tightly into a bun on the verso. The orange slip pigment imbues the figure with a flesh-like presentation, and the nude nature suggests the legs, body, and original wooden arms were at one time covered in additional textile clothing or armor. Size: 3.6" W x 23.1" H (9.1 cm x 58.7 cm); 23.3" H (59.2 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  This figure is of the type from Yangling. Yangling Mausoleum was constructed near Xi'an, Shaanxi province, in central eastern China, which during the Zhou, Qin, Western Han, and Tang dynasties was the eastern end of the Silk Road and home to their ruling houses. The Han Dynasty was a period of wealth and stability for China, and the burial places of their rulers reflected this prosperity. Yangling consisted of two massive burial mounds and contained more than 50,000 miniature terracotta figures who reflected the daily life of the Emperor's court, including warriors clad in full armor, like this figure probably was, servants, eunuchs, animals, and models of important buildings like granaries. The creation of all these pottery figures spawned a huge industry and the remains of workshops have also been found near the burial mounds.
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection
  
  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 winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #148403

  Condition

  Repaired from multiple large pieces, with light restoration in some areas, and resurfacing and overpainting along break lines. Minor abrasions to legs, body, and head, with fading to original pigmentation, and softening to some finer details. Nice traces of original pigment throughout.
• Shipping Info

  • All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.

• Buyer's Premium
  • 26.50 %