Chinese Stoneware Funeral Shrine Model and Figure Ming Dynasty

A stoneware shrine model with a figurine made in Ming Dynasty (15-17th century) in China and used as funeral burial objects. It is not known whether the two objects were originally associated, but they display similar glaze and oxidation and were in the same collection. The stoneware building is an architectural rendering of a typical ancestor shrine used at the time. It features a singe room behind an elaborate front with double doors, under a multiple layered eaves. There are great architectural and decorative details throughout. The green glaze shows a wonderful silvery oxidation, an indication that the piece was buried in the ground. The side appears to be glazed lightly originally and some scrape marks and oxidated glaze residues remains. The back is unglazed. The figure is a typical tomb figurine from the period. Donning a flowing robe, he was probably part of a funeral procession. He was originally holding a staff made of wood, which decayed long ago. The measurement is for the shrine. The figurine is about 8.5" in height.