Silver and metal, wooden base China, 19th century, Qing Dynasty This unique set with 14 individual silver miniature figurines shows a Qing Dynasty magistrate holding court. He is seated at his desk with brushes, inkstone and brush rest neatly lined out in front of him. Six of the other figures are guards, some which are punishing respectively torturing the delinquents. One man is dangling inside a cage and another has a torture instrument around his neck which is inscribed “Danzhou fu Zhengtang Xian” stating the city and county where this court used to be. The Qing dynasty magistrate, was both prosecutor and judge. He decided which cases to accept, directed the gathering of evidence and witnesses, then conducted the trial, including the use of torture. The magistrate was the sole judge of guilt or innocence and determined the punishment or compensation. The official Five Punishments (wu xing) prescribed under the Qing Code included beating with the light bamboo, beating with the heavy bamboo, penal servitude, exile, and execution. Shape: Figural shape, rectangular and reticulated wooden base Dimensions: 13 x 8 cm (dimensions of the base), 2,5 cm (average height of a figurine) Condition: Good condition with natural patina and only very little material loss to one weapon, base shows substantial material loss to reticulated areas Provenance: Austrian private collection 清代銀質袖珍“刑堂”人物組 品相良好，有天然包漿，一個武器上有輕微材料缺失，底座局部區域有些材料缺失 奧地利私人收藏