Rare Han Dynasty Style Terracotta Male Figure - Naked & Painted - 23" Height

Details

Description

Han Dynasty-style terracotta figure.
​Product Overview
​This is a remarkable and large Western Han Dynasty style terracotta male figure, standing … Read more Han Dynasty-style terracotta figure.
​Product Overview
​This is a remarkable and large Western Han Dynasty style terracotta male figure, standing at approximately 23 inches (excluding the custom stand). It belongs to a specific category of ancient Chinese tomb pottery intended for high-ranking burial chambers. These figures are distinctive for being sculpted without molded robes, featuring detailed, sculpted features, and traces of vibrant, original pigments. This unique style suggests they were intended to be outfitted in silk or miniature wooden/fabric clothing and were originally fitted with detachable wooden or lacquer arms, which are common for artifacts of this period.
​Key Features
​Culture: Chinese, Western Han Dynasty style.
​Material: Earthenware pottery with detailed sculpting and painting.
​Form: Standing naked male figure with detachable arm sockets.
​Height: Approximately 23 inches (58 cm).
​Provenance & Stand: Mounted on a custom, gallery-quality clear acrylic display stand with back support and foot base.
​Detailed Description & Condition Report
​Detailed Descriptions:
​The figure is sculpted from unglazed, red-buff earthenware clay. It features an exceptionally expressive, naturalistic face and a detailed topknot hairstyle typical of the Han period. The figure retains significant, traces of its original polychrome pigment, including vibrant red paint on the torso (simulating underwear or simple clothing) and visible painted detailing on the face and feet
​A defining characteristic of these figures is the flat shoulder joints with circular sockets and internal metal pins designed to hold detachable arms. This indicates the figure was designed to be customized with fabric garments, a practice reserved for important tombs. The customized stand supports the weight from behind, ensuring stable and elegant display.
​Condition Report:
​This artifact presents in good, aged condition, consistent with other Western Han burial figurines. It has visible soil encrustations and mineral deposits from long-term burial. The surface displays natural firing cracks, surface wear, and loss to the pigment as is expected for this period and material. A repair and stabilization crack are visible on the right shin (see detailed image 18). Both arm sockets remain intact. The custom acrylic display stand is in new, clear condition. See less