A PAINTED CERAMIC FUNERARY MODEL OF A TOMB GUARDIAN, WENGUAN
China, Tang dynasty

The sculpture depicting a male figure dressed in a large and long robe, his hands clasped to his chest, a large hat on his head.

54 cm high

Provenance: Fabrizio Savi collection, acquired from Galerie Moderne, Bruxelles, between 1995 and 2000.
Funerary statuettes (mingqi) depicting civil officials begin to appear in the tomb equipment of members of the aristocracy from the end of the seventh century. In the procession staged by these sculptures, civil servants follow the guardian animals (zhenmushou) and the armed guards (zhenmuyong); behind them the populous procession made up of the most diverse humanity and numerous animals.

* The thermoluminescence carried out on 20 november 1999 by the Brussels Art Laboratory. Nuclear Section. Institut Superieur Industriel de Bruxelles confirms the proposed dating.