This evocative group of Han dynasty pottery sculptures captures the vitality and artistic sophistication of early imperial China. The mounted rider figures recall examples from the celebrated Yangjiawan (楊家灣) tomb complex near Xi’an, reflecting the growing importance of cavalry and equestrian culture during the Han period.
The seated musician figure reflects the popularity of music and baixi (“hundred entertainments”) in Eastern Han society. At the rear stands a striking green-glazed pottery figure, coated in an early lead glaze that has weathered beautifully over two millennia. Much of the original green glaze has naturally flaked away, surviving mainly within recessed folds and protected areas, where vivid emerald tones still remain.
The striking green-glazed pottery figure of a dog, an especially evocative example of early Han lead-glazed ceramics. Covered in a translucent green glaze that has developed attractive iridescence through age, the figure possesses a powerful sculptural presence. Its stylised features and robust proportions demonstrate the bold aesthetic vocabulary characteristic of Han ceramic art.
Together, the figures embody the expressive power of Han ceramic art, lively, sculptural, and deeply human. Some pieces are from the distinguished collection of Mary and Peter White, long-standing members of the Oriental Ceramic Society, acquired in Hong Kong in 1995, with clear and well-documented provenance.
This evocative group of Han dynasty pottery sculptures captures the vitality and artistic sophistication of early imperial China. The mounted rider figures recall examples from the celebrated Yangjiawan (楊家灣) tomb complex near Xi’an, reflecting the growing importance of cavalry and equestrian culture during the Han period.
The seated musician figure reflects the popularity of music and baixi (“hundred entertainments”) in Eastern Han society. At the rear stands a striking green-glazed pottery figure, coated in an early lead glaze that has weathered beautifully over two millennia. Much of the original green glaze has naturally flaked away, surviving mainly within recessed folds and protected areas, where vivid emerald tones still remain.
The striking green-glazed pottery figure of a dog, an especially evocative example of early Han lead-glazed ceramics. Covered in a translucent green glaze that has developed attractive iridescence through age, the figure possesses a powerful sculptural presence. Its stylised features and robust proportions demonstrate the bold aesthetic vocabulary characteristic of Han ceramic art.
Together, the figures embody the expressive power of Han ceramic art, lively, sculptural, and deeply human. Some pieces are from the distinguished collection of Mary and Peter White, long-standing members of the Oriental Ceramic Society, acquired in Hong Kong in 1995, with clear and well-documented provenance.
