Ming Dynasty Sancai Glazed Pottery Horseshoe-Back Chair

Ming Dynasty, c. 1550-1600, North China

A rare and exquisite Ming Dynasty pottery model of a horseshoe-back armchair (jiao yi), dating to circa 1550-1600. This finely crafted burial ware (mingqi) is adorned with a vibrant green and ocher lead glaze, a hallmark of Ming ceramic artistry.

The elegantly curved backrest, terminating in outwardly sweeping ends, is delicately adorned with a floral motif, while the gracefully arched armrests enhance the chair’s refined silhouette. The openwork base, complete with an integral footrest, showcases the craftsmanship typical of high-status furniture. Intricately incised cross-hatching on the seat suggests soft upholstery, reflecting the luxurious materials used in full-scale counterparts of the era.

The horseshoe-back chair traces its origins to the Song Dynasty (960-1279), evolving from the folding stool into an iconic symbol of status and refinement. By the Ming period, it had become the seat of honor for aristocrats, often positioned at the center of a formal reception hall. While many life-sized wooden examples have survived, pottery models like this were placed in tombs to accompany the deceased in the afterlife.

This exceptional miniature replica is a testament to the grandeur of Ming Dynasty furniture design, making it a prized addition to any collection of Chinese antiques, funerary art, or historical ceramics.

Excellent condition. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age and use, fading to glaze pigment in scattered areas, and light earthen deposits, otherwise intact. Size approx. 18,0cm x 11,4cm x 8,6cm.

Provenance: British private collection.

For a similar examples see:

Model of armchair, Asian Civilisations Museum, Accession Number: 1993-00115 (https://www.roots.gov.sg/Collection-Landing/listing/1148519)

Chair, The Minneapolis Institute of Art, Accession Number: 99.85.3 (https://collections.artsmia.org/art/9737/chair-china)

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)