Ming Dynasty Sancai-Glazed Miniature Offering Vases

Ming Dynasty, c. 1550–1644 AD, China

A superb matched pair of miniature sancai-glazed vases, crafted as mingqi—“spirit objects”—intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. Finely modeled in the form of a half-gu vessel, each vase features a flaring trumpet neck, double ring handles, and a compact, elegant body coated in a rich sancai glaze. Their vivid hues and graceful form evoke the splendor of Ming Dynasty funerary art.

The sancai (“three-color”) glaze, with its amber, green, and cream tones, was developed to emulate more precious materials such as jade, bronze, and imported Roman glass. The lead-based, low-fired glaze technique, perfected during the Tang and revived in the Ming, imbues these miniature vessels with a luminous, almost ethereal quality. These pieces were not meant for practical use but were symbolically charged objects, reflecting the wealth, status, and cultural ideals of the deceased.

The tradition of mingqi dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) and evolved through the Tang and Song periods before reaching renewed prominence during the Ming. Intended to replicate elements of daily life and societal order in the afterlife, mingqi took the form of attendants, warriors, musicians, animals, furniture, and ritual vessels like these vases. The number and quality of mingqi within a tomb were directly related to the social rank of the individual, with wealthier elites commissioning highly detailed and elaborately glazed models.

These rare and exquisitely preserved vases exemplify the aesthetic refinement and spiritual beliefs of late imperial China. Their miniature scale, brilliant glaze, and ritual function make them an exceptional addition to any serious collection of Chinese antiquities.

Good condition. Intact. Age-related wear and abrasion. Glazing defects and firing flaws. Size approx. 11,3cm x 5,8cm x 4,8cm.

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.

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

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

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)