Ming Dynasty Pottery Miniature Food Offering Plate

Ming Dynasty, c. 1550–1600, North China

A beautifully glazed Ming Dynasty miniature offering plate, featuring a finely sculpted recumbent bird—possibly a mandarin duck—resting at its center. The bird is modeled with an elaborate crest, rounded beak, and carefully detailed wings tucked close to the body, while its surface is decorated in reddish-brown and dark blue glazes over a turquoise base. A whimsical ridge runs along its back, enhancing the charm of this small yet elegant piece.

Such objects were created as mingqi, or “spirit goods,” intended for placement in tombs to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. Representing food offerings, attendants, animals, and elements of daily life, mingqi reflected both the spiritual and material concerns of the living. During the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), this funerary tradition flourished, and the artistry reached remarkable levels of refinement.

The intricate modeling and brilliant glazing of this example embody the sophistication of Ming ceramic craftsmanship, while also offering a rare glimpse into the beliefs and customs of ancient China.

A rare and authentic survival of Ming burial traditions—perfect for collectors of early Chinese artifacts and funerary art.

Good condition. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, nicks and chip, with fading to some finer features, and light encrustations within recessed areas. Nice earthen deposits throughout. Size approx. 8,8cm x 7,2cm x 6,3cm.

Provenance: British 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)