Han Dynasty Pottery Figure of a Dancer

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

An exceptional and rare hollow-moulded pottery figure of a dancer, crafted in a greyish-brown clay and once decorated with red and black pigments. The figure is captured mid-movement, gracefully extending her long sleeves as she performs an elegant, measured dance. She wears a tunic with flowing sleeves and flaring trousers, her posture embodying both poise and movement.

Figures of entertainers—musicians, dancers, singers, and even acrobats—were frequently placed in Han tombs, forming lively scenes of performance to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. Sometimes spectators were also included, emphasizing the festive atmosphere of funerary banquets. These groups of pottery figures, known as mingqi (“spirit goods”), served not only to provide entertainment for the departed but also as displays of wealth, refinement, and social status.

This rare survival offers a vivid glimpse into Han dynasty ritual practice, artistry, and courtly culture—an evocative representation of both daily life and the eternal celebration of the afterlife.

Good condition. Repairs to the neck and arm, otherwise intact. Surface wear and minor abrasions consistent with age, with areas of encrusted patina and rich earthen deposits across the surface. Presented on a custom-made wooden stand. Size approx. 12,3cm x 9,8cm x 4,8cm.

Provenance: British private collection.

For a similar examples see: 

Figure of dancer, Asian Civilisations Museum, Accession Number: C-1677 (https://www.roots.gov.sg/Collection-Landing/listing/1004658)

Dancer and Musicians, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 1994.605.85a–c (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/44386)

Figure, The British Museum, Accession Number: 1936,1012.9 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1936-1012-9)