A PAINTED GREY POTTERY FIGURE OF A MAN, Han Dynasty

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A PAINTED GREY POTTERY FIGURE OF A MAN, Han Dynasty
The slender naked figure shown standing on attenuated slab feet incised to indicate the toes, the shoulders socketed to receive seperate arms (now missing), the face well modelled and the hair divided into two sections and drawn back and up into a topknot, covered overall with a dark red pigment and black pigment on the hair (some restoration)
58.5cm. high

Lot Essay

Recent excavation of a burial pit associated with the tumulus of the Han Emperor Jing (r. 156-141 B.C.) North of Xi'an, Shaanxi, yielded a large group of nude male pottery figures. These figures were buried with weapons and armour and originally were dressed in military uniforms. All are now missing their arms, which were probably made of wood and would have been movable. While no pottery horses were buried in this pit, remains of wooden horses and chariots were found, Wenwu 1991, no. 4, pp. 1-13. The appearance of this figure with its sensitive modelled face, slender body and missing arms suggests that it is closely related to the Emperor Jing figures.

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