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The Han era witnessed one of the greatest
artistic outpourings in Chinese history, easily on
par with the glories of their Western
contemporaries, Greece and Rome. Wealth,
pouring into China from trade along the Silk
Road, initiated a period of unprecedented luxury.
Stunning bronze vessels were created, decorated
with elegant inlaid gold and silver motifs. Jade
carvings reached a new level of technical
brilliance. But perhaps the artistic revival of the
Han Dynasty is nowhere better represented than
in their sculptures and vessels that were interred
with deceased nobles. Called mingqi, literally
meaning “spirit articles,” these works depicted a
vast array of subjects, from warriors and horses
to ovens and livestock, which were buried
alongside the dead for use in the next world,
reflecting the Chinese belief that the afterlife was
an extension of our earthly existence.
This stunning set of two seated horses and a
‘Fang-Hu’ encapsulate many of the best qualities
of Han Dynasty ceramics. The term “Fang” is a
prefix used to describe a squared-off or faceted
variation of a normally rounded form, in this case
the Hu wine storage vessel. The extensive
polychrome painting that decorates the sides and
the lid of this vessel, depicting scrolls and
geometric motifs, is quite rare. Seldom do more
than traces of pigments survive in tact and in
this example they retain much of their original
brilliance. The patterns may have been inspired
by contemporary embroidery and textile
patterns, in tune with the fashion of the time.
The beautiful Tao Tieh masks, depicting stylized
dragons holding handles in their mouths, are
noteworthy for their fine relief details and
painted highlights. The fabulous pair of pottery
seated horses also retain much of their original
polychromy. The harnesses are carefully outlined
in black and orange hues against their white
bodies. The saddles are boldly depicted, but the
most charming detail is the elaborate purple
scrollwork that ripples over the figurines. The
mouths of these magnificent creatures are
slightly ajar and it is clear from their finery that
the represent the prized possessions of a
member of the elite of Han society.
- (DL.2083)
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