24 - (R) A CHINESE POTTERY TOMB VASE, PAINTED EARTHENWARE, HAN DYNASTY (206 BC TO 220 AD)

(R) A CHINESE POTTERY TOMB VASE, PAINTED EARTHENWARE, HAN DYNASTY (206 BC TO 220 AD) Dimensions: Height 33 cm Wide 24 cm Depth 24 cm Weight 1781 grams A Chinese painted earthenware tomb vase of baluster form, with a broad globular body rising into a tall slender neck and flaring mouth. Remains of red, white and dark pigments survive in horizontal bands and scrolling motifs around the shoulder and lower body, while burial deposits and mineral encrustations soften the original colours and emphasise the vessel's long archaeological history. Ceramic vessels of this type were produced as mingqi, objects made specifically for burial. In Han funerary culture, such wares recreated useful or desirable possessions for the afterlife, translating everyday forms into a ritual context. Their importance lies not only in shape and decoration but also in the broader belief that the tomb should provide materially for continued existence beyond death. The present vase is particularly attractive for the contrast between its confident proportions and its weathered painted surface. The surviving pigment, muted by burial, gives a strong sense of the vessel's original decorative scheme while leaving the earthenware body visibly ancient and tactile. For lots marked with (R), a 19% VAT is added to the combined hammer price and commission. This VAT is waived for: - Private buyers outside the EU who officially export the items.- Businesses inside the EU holding a valid VAT number, exporting to their home country. Proper export documentation is required to waive the VAT