This piece is an ancient terracotta animal sculpture in the form of a pig, rendered in a simple yet vivid manner. The pig stands firmly on four stout legs, with a short and solidly modeled body. Its face is realistically depicted, and a series of hump-like protrusions are expressed along its back. The surface shows signs of natural wear and oxidation, which lend an authentic patina of age to the piece.
This type of pig-shaped terracotta figure is believed to have been a mingqi (明器), a funerary object from the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). In the later Han period, such animal figures became popular for their practical and lifelike representations, often placed in tombs to provide for the deceased in the afterlife and symbolize abundance and prosperity.
Date : Han Dynasty(206 B.C.E. - 220 C.E.) Dimension : 16cm (Height) x 28cm(Diameter) Condition : Excellent Provenance : Acquired in late 1990s from Hongkong
