Important Ancient Chinese Figural group SIX (6) GARDENERS for the after life , Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644

This interesting group of tomb figures each brandishing a different gardening tool and attribute represent assistance and aid to the deceased in the after life. The unusual nature of this group represent the first time we have seen gardening themes crafted in tomb sculpture. Look for other listings offering other figures in our collection.

The statues in our collection each hold a different tool and are dressed in long gowns with long sleeves and tall hats, their hands grasping in this case a gardening tool.

Represented : bucket, shovel, rake, trowel, plow, and broom

They are very interesting in that each is extremely detailed and highly glazed in turquoise, dark cobalt blue, and highlighted in red, white, and black cold painted pigments. Most of the original glazes and colors remain in tact not often found on these works of art. Each figure is representative of an important tomb which deserved highest quality pottery votive representations.

The figures were placed in tombs to enable and comfort the individual as he or she coped with daily needs in the after life.

Hand made and hand glazed, quality figures such as these are infrequently found in wealthy tombs of the elite and wealthy ancient Ming Chinese.

Dimension: nine inches tall

Condition: Superb, all figures are original and intact with finely preserved glazes and pigments.

Provenance: Old European collection originally acquired in Hong Kong 1990s and legally imported into the USA.

Guarantee: Our figures are guaranteed to be crafted during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). A thermoluminescence TL report sampling accurately confirms age of these sculptures from 500-600 years ago

History:
The Ming dynasty then known as the Empire of the Great Ming ruled China for 276 years (1368–1644) following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. This dynasty has been described as one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history and was the last imperial dynasty in China ruled by ethnic Han Chinese.