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Chinese Ming Dynasty Tomb Funeral Pottery Bed Model

Offered by: Tishu

Description
A Chinese stoneware day bed model circa Ming dynasty (15th-17th century). The miniature models were traditionally made as burial offering objects. Pottery models of daily life necessities such as furniture, foods and wine bottles, even servants, musicians, and whole fleet of theater troops were placed with the deceased in the tomb for their afterlife. This practice became popular in Tang dynasty and persisted to the Ming Dynasty. The tomb stoneware tends to be relatively coarsely made and glazed in green and yellow, sometimes also blue colors. They are charming for their vernacular and realistic style and provide a snapshot window to the life of the contemporary society in terms of the furnishing, utensils as well as dresses etc.
The throne-like bed, sometimes called Luhan bed, was an important piece of furniture and widely used in the sitting room of the affluent Ming household. It served as a settee and day bed, and often a small low table is placed in the middle. The bed model features the wood construction in detail including the slab base, the surrounding frieze panels, the foot stool, exposed joints and corner brackets. There are holes of the four corners on the bed, probably used to hold canopy made from wood and fabrics, but the organic material has since desegrated in the tomb. The surface of the bed was decorated in green and yellow glaze and the top was left unglazed. Underside the base is unglazed, exposing the fired clay.

More Information

Origin:	China
Period:	Pre 18th Century
Materials:	ceramic
Condition:	Good. Fine condition with minor surface wear and small scattered chips and crackle lines throughout. Earth residues in the bottom recesses. All as shown in the photos.
Creation Date:	15-17th century
Styles / Movements:	Asian, Traditional
Patterns:	Asian/Oriental, Handmade
Incollect Reference #:	669731

Dimensions

W.	12 in;	H.	7 in;	Diam.	8 in;
W.	30.48 cm;	H.	17.78 cm;	Diam.	20.32 cm;

Message from Seller:

Tishu, based in Atlanta, GA, offers a diverse collection ranging from Neolithic art to 20th-century collectibles, with a focus on Mid-century design, Japanese and Korean art, Asian textiles, and Contemporary Aboriginal art. Driven by a passion for timeless beauty, the gallery is open by appointment only and offers works that span 5,000 years of history. Reach them at 305-400-0561 or tishu@tishugallery.com.