Song Dynasty Pottery Figure of a Boy

Northern Song Dynasty, c. 960–1127 AD, China

An exceptionally rare and evocative unglazed pottery figure of a naked baby boy, possibly representing the infant Buddha, and most likely modeled during the Northern Song Dynasty Period. The softly rounded figure stands upon a rectangular plinth, his right arm raised to the front and left arm resting at his side, both hands clenched into small fists. A faint raised line beneath the neck suggests the original presence of a painted foliate apron, now largely abraded with age.

The boy’s elongated head tilts gently to one side, his plump-cheeked face animated with a lifelike expression — finely articulated eyes wide in alertness, a delicately modeled nose, subtly defined ears, and a tender half-smile conveying a serene, almost divine innocence. Adorned with bracelets on both wrists and an amulet around his neck, the figure retains traces of white slip and red and black pigments, hinting at its once richly painted surface.

According to Song historical records and archaeological discoveries, such pottery dolls (nihai’er) were often made for the Qixi Festival (the seventh day of the seventh lunar month). They were elaborately dressed in real garments and jewelry, placed in households as auspicious symbols expressing the wish for numerous male children. While images of boys were a popular motif in Song art, large-scale pottery figures of this type are exceptionally rare, representing a unique synthesis of domestic devotion, popular belief, and the refined naturalism that characterized Song craftsmanship.

Excellent condition. Repairs in right arm. Slight surface cracks to the front of the stand. Heavy surface wear and abrasions consistent with age. Attractive encrusted patina and rich earthen deposits across the surface. Size approx. 31,8cm x 10,5cm x 9,1cm.

Provenance: British private collection.

For a similar examples see: 

Sitting boy, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 2024.276 (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/775525)

A group of seven smaller painted pottery figures depicting boys with finely drawn features and slightly elongated heads, from a tomb dated to 1113 CE, excavated in Zhejiang City, Jiangsu Province. Zhejiang City Museum, illustrated in Zhongguo Meishu Quanji, Diaosubian, vol. 5, Beijing, 1988, pl. 173.  

A group of five Northern Song dynasty miniature red pottery figures of boys in the Zhejiang City Museum, illustrated in Zhongguo Wenwu Jinghua Daquan: Taocijuan (The Compendium of Chinese Archaeological Treasures: Ceramics Volume), Hong Kong, 1993, p. 171, no. 584.