Green And Amber Glazed Pair Of Terracotta Servants, China, Ming Dynasty

Origin: China
Period: Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
Material: Terracotta with amber and green glaze
Dimensions: 37.6 x 12.7 cm and 39.9 x 12.9 cm
Condition: Restorations and minor accidents
Provenance: Old private collection

Pieces acquired by the former owner in Singapour at the Shangaï Arts & Crafts gallery in 1993
A Certificate of Authenticity of the gallery with picture will be provided to the future buyer

A pair of servants represented standing on a hexagonal base depicting a man and a woman.
The man is wearing a long tunic down to the feet, it is folded on the right side and has a neck 'v'. The long sleeves with finely worked folds hide hands joined with a small chest, the latter resting on a long ôcre fabric. A belt holds the garment and falls to the right side of the character. The pale white face is treated realistically. The finely underlined eyebrows accomodate open eyes framing a flat nose. The fine mouth with the red pigmentation strengthens the expression of the face borrowed from calm. The top of the skull receives a typical headdress revealing the hairstyle at the back of the head. The woman is dressed in two tunics, the longest being under the first and down to the feet. The visible garment is closed by a button and has a round neck. The hands hidden by the large sleeves have a large cut. The pale face has the same characteristics as that of the man with the difference that the half-open mouth offers more realism. The classical hairstyle of the Ming period is girded by a headband, the top of the skull receiving a high elaborate attribute.

These kind of figurines belongs to the tradition of 'Mingqi'. These are funeral substitutes originally made of wood, then terracotta and which took place in the graves to accompany and serve the deceased in the afterlife.