Brought to you by Keith Amery - Ancient Art & Antiquities Expert
Standing proudly on the UNESCO world heritage list is the impressive Terracotta Army in China. Although the soldiers are well-protected in their tomb, a number of other exceptional terracotta figures from Ancient China are on the market and we are proud to present the opportunity to own your own piece of history at our special Ancient Chinese Figures auction that will end on the 15th of October. Keep reading to discover the history and significance of these figures.
The Terracotta Warriors
The Terracotta Warriors of ancient China are famous the world over as the guardians of the mausoleum representing the universe of the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, c. 210 B.C. They are collectively known as warriors, as most of the figures (8,000 in total) represent individual soldiers and generals. However, the burial pits also contained 130 chariots with 520 horses and a further 150 cavalry horses, showing just how important the horse was to the fledgling Chinese empire.
We now know, despite the uniform grey colour of the Terracotta Army, these life-sized guardians were originally brightly painted in vivid colours, representing the appearance of the Chinese courtiers and their animals as they would have appeared in life. A recent scientific study by University College London has shown that the warriors were equipped for the afterlife with real functioning weapons including early examples of the crossbow. Like their near neighbours, the Mongolians under Genghis Khan in the 12th and 13th Centuries A.D., the horse would prove vital to the expansion and control of vast Chinese territorial empires across Asia for millennia.
Noble Beasts
The horse also played a domestic role and we can see from terracotta statues of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. – 210 A.D.), contemporaneous with the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Wang, women of high status were encouraged to ride and were themselves likely to have been skilled hunter-warriors at a time of feudal territorial instability.
Building Your Own Army
The Han Dynasty is famed for its terracotta figures and Catawiki's Archaeological Finds & Remains auction is proud to present a rare selection of representative types, from the standing tomb figure, to the camel, and of course a wide selection of horses including riders - even some with detachable saddles. All pieces come from top specialist galleries and private collectors and with Thermoluminscence Test (TL) certificates of authenticity so you can be sure these are only the best authentic examples of their age. As China again reasserts itself as a world power, it is timely to look back to the era of the first Emperor and appreciate these wonderful examples of craftsmanship and status that have survived more than two millennia for our appreciation.
Visit our special Ancient Chinese Figures auction for your chance to place your bids on these and other exceptional figures. The auction ends on the 15th of October. You can also register here to become a seller and offer up pieces from your own collection for auction.