Chinese Tomb Figure of a Standing Attendant (Mingqi)
Sculpture, freestanding ceramic figurine on a wooden base • Anonymous Chinese ceramicist, imperial workshop tradition
Style & Movement
Traditional Chinese Funerary Art (Mingqi)
Medium & Technique
Earthenware, molded and hand-finished, with traces of original polychrome pigment (pigments largely lost)
Creation Period
Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) or later stylistic revival
Dimensions & Format
Estimated height approximately 25-30 cm including base, vertical standing format
Subject Description
A standing human figure, likely a military or civil attendant, wearing traditional robes and a distinctive pointed cap (official headdress), with hands clasped in front of the chest in a gesture of deference.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair. Significant surface degradation, widespread loss of original painted pigments, weathering, and patina consistent with ancient burial artifacts or aged decorative replicas.
Estimated Market Value
$800 - $1,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$500 - $1,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired through the Asian art antiquities market, originating from a private Western collection with undisclosed early export documentation.
Art Historical Significance
Mingqi (spirit items) served a vital cultural and religious function in ancient Chinese burial practices, designed to accompany and serve the deceased in the afterlife, reflecting the social hierarchy and material culture of the Tang Dynasty.
Notable Features
Retains traces of underlying white slip and weathered dark grey surface texture, mounted on a custom-carved dark wood display base typical of mid-20th-century Asian art export formatting.
Condition Issues
Heavy flaking of the white slip and pigment layers, earth encrustations, surface abrasion, and potential hairline fractures common to excavated low-fired earthenware.
Conservation Recommendations
Stable indoor climate control, avoidance of moisture or direct handling without gloves, gentle dry dusting with a soft brush, and display away from direct sunlight.