Lot 704

Ming Dynasty Turquoise-Glazed Tomb Attendants, Set of 3

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Lot 704
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Ming Dynasty Turquoise-Glazed Tomb Attendants, Set of 3
Ming Dynasty Turquoise-Glazed Tomb Attendants, Set of 3
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Ming Dynasty Turquoise-Glazed Tomb Attendants, Set of 3

Estimate: $1,300 - $1,950

Starting Bid: $500

(0 Bids)
by Artemis Fine Arts
July 30, 2026 8:00 AM MDT
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

East Asia, China, Ming Dynasty, ca. 1368 to 1644 CE. A group of three Chinese pottery tomb attendant figures, each standing atop an integral base, dressed in flowing robes accented with turquoise-green glaze. Their tall hats and formal attire identify them as court attendants or officials, intended to serve the deceased in the afterlife. Each attendant shows individual variation, with faces differing slightly in expression and tilt of the head. The garments fall in long vertical folds, with glazing pooling and thinning across the surface. One figure has visible damage to the top of the hat, consistent with age and burial. Size of largest: 4" W x 13.5" H (10.2 cm x 34.3 cm)

Tomb attendant figures of this type were placed in Ming dynasty burials to populate the eternal household, ensuring status, order, and continuity beyond death. They reflect Confucian ideals of hierarchy and service, translated into ceramic form for funerary use. The restrained palette, formal poses, and balanced proportions speak to the Ming preference for clarity and decorum over the exuberance of earlier periods. Surface wear, pigment loss, and encrustations consistent with long interment are present throughout, reinforcing their archaeological character. As a group, these attendants offer a dignified glimpse into Ming funerary practice, where sculpture, belief, and social structure converge in quietly watchful form.

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; textile: ex-private Los Angeles, California, USA collection; ex-major gallery, Beverly Hills, California, USA, primarily acquired between 1985 and 2005

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Item # 199956

  • Condition: All heads are removable. Chipping, nicks, and abrasions throughout as shown, but, otherwise, all three are intact and excellent with good remaining glaze and scattered earthen encrustations.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $749 $25
$750 $1,499 $50
$1,500 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $7,499 $250
$7,500 $14,999 $500
$15,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000