Ming Dynasty Glazed Pottery Tomb Attendant with Zodiac Animal

Ming Dynasty, c. 1550-1644, China.

This exceptional glazed ceramic tomb figure from the Ming Dynasty features a human attendant holding a sheep, symbolizing one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. The figure is dressed in a gracefully flowing gown painted in vibrant cobalt blue, sky blue, and white tones, with hand-applied glaze and pigment that remains remarkably well-preserved. Such detailed craftsmanship and rich coloration indicate the piece was created for an individual of high social status, reflecting the importance placed on funerary art in Ming China.

The Chinese zodiac—comprising the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig—was integral to Chinese cosmology and funeral practices. These animals were believed to guide and protect the deceased, offering harmony and balance in the afterlife. Zodiac figures like this one were often included in tombs to represent the passage of time and to provide spiritual guardianship.

Known as mingqi (spirit objects), such tomb figures played a vital role in ancestral burial traditions. Their placement in the tomb, often in a north-south alignment, symbolized the cycles of time and life. The quality and variety of these figures reflected the family’s wealth and devotion, highlighting the cultural importance of ancestor worship and filial responsibility in ensuring the comfort and security of the departed.

This piece retains significant pigment and glaze despite its centuries-long interment, with minor losses exposing the underlying red clay. The detailed expression of the attendant, the flowing lines of the robe, and the delicate rendering of the sheep all speak to the artistic excellence of Ming-era ceramic production. A rare and culturally significant artifact, this tomb attendant embodies the artistry and spiritual depth of Ming Dynasty burial customs. It is an outstanding addition for collectors and enthusiasts of Chinese history and antiquities.

Excellent condition. Intact. Mineral encrustation, soil and dust. Size approx. 19,1cm x 8,0cm x 6,5cm.

Provenance: Swedish private collection

References and further reading:

The Matter of Tang Tomb Figures; A New Perspective on a Group of Terracotta Animals and Riders, Lucien Van Valen & Isabelle Garachon, The Rijksmuseum Bulletin, Volume 62. pp. 218-239, 2014.

Dream of Ideal Life in Ancient China: Ceramic Miniatures of Architectures, Household Goods, People and Animals, Aichi.ken Toji Shiryokan, Seto, 2005, no. 14, p. 34.

Antecedents of Sui-Tang Burial Practices in Shaanxi, Mary Fong, Artibus Asiae 51, no:s. 3–4 (1991), pp. 147–98.

Mingqi - Items for the next world, Jan-Erik Nilsson, Gotheborg.com (https://gotheborg.com/glossary/mingqi.shtml)

Immortality of the Spirit: Chinese Funerary Art from the Han and Tang Dynasties Exhibition Catalogue, Jill J. Deupi, Ive Covaci & Leopold Swergold, Immortality of the Spirit - Ephemera. 1, Fairfield University, 2012. (https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/immortality_ephemera/1)

The Vibrant Role of Mingqi in Early Chinese Burials, Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, Heather Colburn Clydesdale, Independent Scholar, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, April 2009. (www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mgqi/hd_mgqi.htm)