Chinese Tang Dynasty Pottery Attendant Mingqi Figure

East Asia, China, Tang Dynasty, ca. 618 to 906 CE. A mold-formed pottery tomb figure, known as a mingqi, depicting an attendant standing in a poised posture with one hand raised to the chest. Dressed in a long tunic and wearing a tall headdress, this figure likely represents a servant placed in the tomb to serve the deceased in the afterlife. The surface was painted after firing using the cold-painted technique, which, being unglazed, has resulted in pigment loss over time, though faint traces of white remain. Mingqi were essential funerary objects included in the tombs of the elite, representing aspects of daily life such as servants, animals, furniture, and food to ensure comfort in the afterlife. Size: 9" L x 2.25" W (22.9 cm x 5.7 cm)