Sancai Mingqi Spirit Attendant

Molded of earthenware, this petite sculpture is a type of centuries-old burial figurine known as míngqì. Such model figures were placed in tombs of individuals with high status to ensure a safe journey to the afterlife. Meant to depict the pleasures of daily life, common burial figures were warriors, dancers, male and female figures and animals. This míngqì is of a male attendant dressed in a flowing green gown supported by a waist tie and topped by a towering headdress. Though some of the glaze has now weathered from age, revealing the original ceramic form, the facial features are left intact with stunning detail.