Northern Qi Dynasty (550–577)
Height: 43 cm
Oxford Authentication TL tested, 2012
This imposing Northern Qi dynasty painted grey pottery figure depicts an armoured warrior standing upright with a tall shield held before the body. The figure is strongly modelled with a broad chest, rigid stance and highly individualised facial features, creating a powerful sense of vigilance and authority.
The warrior wears full armour, articulated through raised circular panels and painted red borders over a pale cream-white ground. Considerable traces of the original cold-painted decoration remain across the helmet, armour and lower garments, providing an unusually vivid impression of the figure’s original appearance.
Of particular interest is the large shield, decorated with a fierce creature mask in relief. The warrior’s right hand is pierced with a purpose-made aperture, indicating that it originally held a separately fashioned miniature weapon, probably in a perishable material such as wood.
The strongly stylised facial expression, elaborate headgear and robust proportions are characteristic of military figures produced during the Northern Qi period, when sculptural representations became increasingly expressive and richly detailed.
The figure was thermoluminescence tested by Oxford Authentication in 2012. The accompanying analysis recorded a date of manufacture within approximately 1,000–1,600 years before testing, consistent with the Northern Qi attribution.
A substantial and visually striking example of Northern Qi ceramic sculpture, notable for its scale, surviving polychrome decoration and unusual shield.
Northern Qi Dynasty (550–577)
Height: 43 cm
Oxford Authentication TL tested, 2012
This imposing Northern Qi dynasty painted grey pottery figure depicts an armoured warrior standing upright with a tall shield held before the body. The figure is strongly modelled with a broad chest, rigid stance and highly individualised facial features, creating a powerful sense of vigilance and authority.
The warrior wears full armour, articulated through raised circular panels and painted red borders over a pale cream-white ground. Considerable traces of the original cold-painted decoration remain across the helmet, armour and lower garments, providing an unusually vivid impression of the figure’s original appearance.
Of particular interest is the large shield, decorated with a fierce creature mask in relief. The warrior’s right hand is pierced with a purpose-made aperture, indicating that it originally held a separately fashioned miniature weapon, probably in a perishable material such as wood.
The strongly stylised facial expression, elaborate headgear and robust proportions are characteristic of military figures produced during the Northern Qi period, when sculptural representations became increasingly expressive and richly detailed.
The figure was thermoluminescence tested by Oxford Authentication in 2012. The accompanying analysis recorded a date of manufacture within approximately 1,000–1,600 years before testing, consistent with the Northern Qi attribution.
A substantial and visually striking example of Northern Qi ceramic sculpture, notable for its scale, surviving polychrome decoration and unusual shield.
