Tang Dynasty, 618-907 A.D. or later. A terracotta warrior, depicted as a fully armoured soldier wearing a breastplate, armguards, protection for the shoulders and a distinctive headscarf (futou); the armour worn over a coat, closed by a belt, wearing flaring trousers; both hands held at waist high; traces of pigment to the surfaces. Cf. Ranitzsch, K.H., The army of Tang China, Stockport, 1995, pl.6, fig.29, for a statuette of a warrior in a similar attire. 1.49 grams, 44 cm high (17 3/8 in.). Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister. Tang emperors strictly regulated both the scope and scale of funerary objects according to one’s rank: a member of the 3rd rank was entitled to be buried with 90 pieces; 4th and 5th ranks, 70 pieces; 6th-9th ranks, 40 pieces. Members of the imperial family on the other hand, might have had hundreds of large-size funerary objects interred with them. Special workshops were established to produce these mingqi, leading to a livelymerce in multiple mould manufacturing.