China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A glazed hollow tomb figure (ming-ch'i), with a dark brown glaze, showing a musician. He kneels with one hand raised to his ear and the other holding a pan pipe or similar instrument. He wears a large, flat hat or headdress. The glaze was low-fired and colored with iron to produce that sheeny brown color. The Han had elaborate tombs, filled with clay figures like this one (in addition to metallic wealth like bronze and iron weapons). These clay figures seem to have been made to replicate activities the deceased would have enjoyed in life - perhaps the deceased was royalty, used to listening to the court musicians. Size: 2.4" W x 4.65" H (6.1 cm x 11.8 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Private FL collection

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#117527

Intact, with much original glaze remaining