Han Dynasty Pottery Female Court Attendant

Western Han Dynasty, c. 206 BC – 220 AD, Shaanxi Province, China

An exceptional hollow-moulded terracotta figure of a female court attendant from the Western Han Dynasty, sensitively modeled in a poised and reverent stance. The figure is rendered in the characteristic slender proportions of early Han figural sculpture, standing with arms at her sides and dressed in an elegant full-length robe with long, swagged sleeves and a cross-lapel design, fastened at the right. The robe and tight-fitting skirt—flaring dramatically at the hem—are richly adorned with flowing red and black brushstroke patterns, applied after firing.

Her facial features—gently arched brows, almond-shaped eyes, delicate nose, and softly smiling lips—are painted with finesse. The skin is painted white, reflecting contemporary ideals of beauty, while her hair is styled in a high, elegant chignon. The original pigments, applied post-firing, were fragile and are prone to flaking, though much of the coloration remains.

During the Han Dynasty, female court attendants—known as gōngnǚ (宫女)—played vital roles within the imperial household. Selected for their beauty, refinement, or talent, they served the emperor, empress, and high-ranking nobility in various capacities, from ceremonial service to personal assistance and entertainment.

This figure would have functioned as a mingqi, or tomb attendant figure, intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. These burial objects mirrored the daily life and social structures of the living, providing for the needs of the deceased in the next world. The Han Dynasty marked a flourishing of the arts, driven by prosperity, innovation, and a shift from ritual to more decorative and expressive forms. This figure exemplifies that transformation, embodying both artistic refinement and spiritual purpose within one of China’s most culturally significant dynasties.

Good condition. Intact. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, encrusted patina and rich earthen deposits throughout. Size approx. 25,5cm x 8,5cm x 4,5cm.

Provenance: British private collection.

For a similar example see: 

Tomb figure of a female attendant, Asian Civilisations Museum, Accession Number: C-1263 (https://www.roots.gov.sg/Collection-Landing/listing/1088201)