China - Exceptional Grand Military Officer - Han Dynasty - Tl.

Grand officer of the Chinese army of the Han Dynasty. He is richly adorned with a crossed tunic falling over baggy trousers above the boots. He wears a leather headdress on his head, a sign of his rank. His left arm is outstretched at the end of which his index finger gives his orders. The expression of the face is of a rare realism. Pieces of this size and representation are very rare, they generally belonged to high-ranking deceased. Similar model at the Xianyang Municipal Museum and depicted in the book "China Treasures and Splendours, p.69, Edition Arthaud. A thermoluminescence test accompanies the object certifying the time of its creation. In the context of the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD), which marked one of the most important and prosperous periods in Chinese history, military officers played a crucial role in the defense and expansion of the empire's territory. The military of the Han Dynasty as in many other ancient civilizations was often depicted in art and archaeology, including pottery and terracotta figurines. One of the most famous discoveries is that of the terracotta army of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, but terracotta figurines from the Han period also exist, although they are less well known. These terracotta military figurines were often used in tombs to accompany the deceased to the afterlife, and were usually depicted in armor, carrying weapons, and with unchecked details to reflect the status and position of the person they represented. The marriages between military culture and everyday life are reflected in these artistic representations, illustrating the strategic and symbolic importance of military officers at this time. Origin: China. Dimensions: Height: 62 cm; Length: 41.5 cm; Width: 14 cm. Period: Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220). Provenance: Former French private collection. Condition: Very good general condition, very beautiful conservation of the polychromies by pigments and cold as well.