Mingqi

Mingqi, also known as “burial furniture” and “spirit objects,” translates as “items for the next world” or “spiritual utensils ” and is Chinese term for objects made specifically for burial purposes mingqi Mingqi are miniature earthenware models of items used in everyday life – that were made specifically for placement in tombs of wealthy Chinese upper class to make sure in their afterlife that they were surrounded in the enhanced environment they enjoyed in their life on earth. Chinese strict belief in life after death, filial piety, and the survival of the soul of the deceased in the afterlife resulted in funerary practices requiring families to honor the spirit of the dead and provide for the deceased soul’s comfort and happiness with abundant grave goods which would include miniature ceramic renderings of furnishing, utensils, offerings, livestock, buildings, tools, weapons, servants, animals, mystical beings, dancers and warriors and a huge variety of other everyday items. This practice existed for nearly two millennia but became too costly for most as the rich sought recognition by publicly displaying their wealth, power, social rank and filial piety for ancestors by the amount and quality of mingqi they provided. After spending fortunes to finance burials and contrary to existing laws to limit ostentatious spending and reduce families’ burden, ceramics used for burials were gradually replaced by the end of the Ming Dynasty by paper effigies and other flammable objects burned at funerals. The Song brick tiles used for funerary purposes are also considered mingqi.

Showing 1–12 of 16 results

  • Sale!

    Ancient Glazed Ceramic Han Wing Cup, China (1009BOH) $450

    Original price was: $450.00.Current price is: $395.00.
    H: 1.5”  W: 5.125”  D: 3.875” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This Han dynasty green glazed winged cup is a mingqi burial object placed in a tomb to comfort and satisfy the deceased. Winged cups were popular during the Han Dynasty when they were made from molded earthenware covered with a thick green leaded glaze which sometimes , as here, caused a chemical reaction between the lead and the tomb’s humidity resulting in an iridescent silver-green color.

  • Sale!

    Ancient Han Dynasty Glazed Hu Jar, China (1604AOK) $595

    Original price was: $595.00.Current price is: $440.00.
    H: 6.75” Dia: 6″ | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This 2000 year old heavy wine vessel called a Hu is covered in a dark-green lead glaze used often during the Han dynasty for burial items called mingqi, a variety of which were placed in tombs to provide comfort to the deceased in their afterlife. With a characteristic elegant hu shape, it rests on a wide foot and rises to a minimally decorated globular body with low relief horizontal bars, a wide tapering neck and is topped by a wide flaring bowl-like mouth. Its underside, like most, was left unglazed.

  • Ancient Han Dynasty Pottery Pig, China (2029BKE) $395

    $395.00
    H: 2.5”  W: 4.5”  D: 2.375” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This glazed pig mingqi was one of many items made for a tomb to placate the spirit of the deceased and assure the soul’s access to the things enjoyed when alive. This animal mingqi confirms the importance of pigs as a food source and of raising livestock in Han China. An alert animal whose stocky body is typical, it’s dark lead green glaze and damp tomb created a chemical reaction over centuries making it a lustrous, iridescent green impossible to copy that is highly valued in China and by collectors. In very good condition, it has expected glaze losses, minor abrasions and cracks due to its age and long tomb burial.

  • Sale!

    Antique Ming Attendant with Zodiac Animal, China (1155BCK)

    Original price was: $395.00.Current price is: $315.00.
    H: 7.375”  W: 2.75”  D: 2.5” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S!

    A group of 12 zodiac figures as mingqi sometimes accompanied the wealthy deceased in their tomb. This Ming dynasty earthenware figurine stands on a low circular base and wears an official’s hat and long flowing robes. It is difficult to identify the specific animal held here but it may be a rabbit, small dog or baby pig. The detailed figure is hollow and partially mould-made and unlike glazed mingqi, was covered with a white slip and painted using black and white pigments which are mostly extant.

  • Antique Ming Dynasty Earthenware Horseshoe Chair, China (3331BOK) $685

    $685.00
    H: 7.375″  W: 4.375″  D: 3.75″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Often ancestral figures were portrayed sitting in horseshoe chairs to reflect their high status. As many earthenware mingqi, this well-modeled chair has a liberally applied green glaze resulting in expected drips around the stretchers. The seat is decorated with a yellow glaze imitating caning and the decorative carved design on the splat also has a green glaze and a carved decorative “clocklike” circular design. The bottom of the seat and legs are not usually glazed. In very good condition with expected minor chips and minor glaze deterioration consistent with its age and long burial, it pairs perfectly with item 3330 and together would add to a fine collection of Chinese ceramics or brighten up a small space.

  • Antique Ming Earthenware Horseshoe Chair, China (3330BOK) $685

    $685.00
    H: 7.375″  W: 4.375″  D: 3.75″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This charming miniature Ming dynasty ceramic horseshoe pottery chair is an accurate model of an impressive beautifully grained hardwood Ming chair with a continuous horseshoe shaped top rail and a caned seat. The curved splat of a wood chair might have either carved or pierced motifs or medallions and straight or curved stretchers joining the legs in pairs at the same height on each side. Often ancestral carved figures were portrayed sitting in horseshoe chairs and reflect the high status of the figure they were portraying. This ceramic mingqi (burial item) has a thick green glaze throughout which was liberally applied normal usual drips around the stretchers. The seat is decorated with a yellow glaze in imitation of caning as is the decorative carved design on the splat, but the bottoms of the seat and legs are unglazed. The rail ends splay to the right and left for hand comfort and decorative effect are traditionally found in Ming Dynasty hardwood chairs. In very good condition with minor chips and paint losses, it was buried underground in a tomb for centuries. This would be a fine addition to a collection of antique ceramics or simply a beautiful decorative piece to brighten a small space.

  • Sale!

    Antique Rare Set of Ming Ceramic Attendants, China (3224ABC-BKEM) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $4,985.00.Current price is: $3,995.00.
    H: 17.875″  W: 4.875″  D: 4.75″ |CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING COST

    This brilliant set of three Ming dynasty attendants – one male and two female – are in a unique category of refinement and elegance that reflects the importance and high status of the tomb, the deceased and the family that commissioned them. Standing on hexagonal bases with arms folded below their chests and presenting offerings to the deceased, their clothing and parts of the bases have a rare cobalt blue glaze for burial objcts, two have yellow glazed areas and all have painted unglazed areas. Their removable heads are highly detailed and beautifully modeled fitting inside high collars.  These figures are presented and sold as a remarkable set reflecting their original presentation and condition.

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  • Brick Molded Tile of a Foreigner, China (1516A-BOK) $475

    $475.00

    Ht:6.875″ W:5.25” D:2.25 | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This fascinating thick Song pottery brick is a low-fired depiction of a dwarf foreigner with a rotund belly, a large head and nose, an open mouth and abnormal features. The Chinese believed dwarfs could ward off evil spirits and sickness, attract peace and blessings (fu) and were very wise. Images of dwarfs became so popular, some were produced in numbers.

  • Sale!

    Brick Tile of 2 Wéiqí Board Game Players, China (3346BKE) $495 SPECIAL PRICE $395

    Original price was: $495.00.Current price is: $395.00.
    H: 11” W: 9.5” \ D: 2” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    As part of the The Song dynasty cultural expansion, government and public buildings and tombs were built with interior walls decorated with earthenware unglazed mold-made brick tiles. This fanciful vibrant tile with a scalloped frame portrays two people playing a board game called wéiqí which originated in China over 2500 years ago. It is the world’s oldest and most complex board game still played.

  • Sale!

    Brick Tile of Couple Feasting and Figure Pointing to Flying Bat, China (3349BLE) SPECIAL PRICE

    Original price was: $465.00.Current price is: $375.00.

    This late Song dynasty earthenware ceramic brick tile portrays a couple sitting behind a banquet table with foods placed in front of them. On the right are two figures, one of whom points to a stylized image of a bat flying in the sky.

  • Han Dynasty Cocoon Jar with Cloud Designs, China (16015UHEM) $2100

    $2,100.00
    H: 11.75” W: 12.25” D: 7.5” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    Cocoon jars were mingqi made for placement in tombs to comfort the deceased on their journey to and in their afterlife. An elixir of Immortality made from mulberry leaves or their ashes was placed inside for the deceased to drink and transmigrate into the world of the beyond. Ovoid in shape to resemble a silkworm cocoon, ajar rests on a small trumpet-shaped foot and has a narrow neck and a wide lip at its mouth. Painted after firing with vertical bands dividing it into panels, swirling cloud scrolls, and circular “eye” motifs at each end, this beautiful vessel is in excellent condition for its age with expected paint losses, scrapes, and dirt adhesions.

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  • SOLD Song Dynasty Tile of Vase with Flowers, China (3347BLE) $995 with Acrylic Stand

    $995.00
    H: 11”  W: 9.5”  D: 1.65” | FREE SHIPPING

    This earthenware brick tile bordered with a deep scalloped frame depicts a vase with a bouquet of propitious flowers: a chrysanthemum and a peony wrapped with an elegant ribbon. Tiles like this were made to decorate the large numbers of buildings created during the prosperous Song dynasty and to adorn tombs. This elegant brick is in good condition for its age with expected chips and cracks, some restoration of background and a re-glued frame break on each side. It has earth adherents from its burial in a tomb.

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