206 BC - 220 AD CHINESE HAN DYNASTY TERRACOTTA SCULPTURE OF A MUSICIAN WITH A GONG

• This Han Dynasty terracotta sculpture of a seated musician has been depicted holding a gong (a percussion instrument including a circular metal disc that is typically struck with a mallet).
• Terracotta sculptures of entertainers such as this were often created to be placed in a tomb so that they could accompany the deceased in the afterlife.
• A very rare opportunity to own an important piece of ancient Chinese history from the Han Dynasty (206BC - 220AD).
• The Han Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China (206BC – 220AD), established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu. Spanning over four centuries, the Han Dynasty is considered a golden age in Chinese history, and had a permanent impact on Chinese identity in later periods. The majority ethnic group of modern China refer to themselves as the ``Han people`` or ``Han Chinese``. The spoken Sinitic language and written Chinese are referred to respectively as the ``Han language`` and ``Han characters``.
• The Han Dynasty oversaw periods of economic prosperity as well as significant growth in the money economy that had first been established during the Zhou dynasty (c.1050BC – 256BC). There were significant advances in science and technology during the Han period, including the emergence of papermaking, rudders for steering ships, negative numbers in mathematics, raised-relief maps, hydraulic-powered armillary spheres for astronomy, and seismometers.
• The Han conquered the Hexi Corridor and Inner Asian territory of the Tarim Basin from the Xiongnu, helping to establish the Silk Road.
• Palace eunuchs increasingly involved themselves in the dynasty`s court politics, engaging in violent power struggles between various consort clans of the empresses and empresses dowager. Following the death of Emperor Ling (168AD – 189AD), the palace eunuchs were massacred by military officers, allowing members of the aristocracy and military governors to become warlords and divide the empire.
• Dated to 206BC - 220AD (Han Dynasty)
• Literature: Cf. Similar examples currently in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) inventory:
• (Museum Accession Number: 36.12.7)
• (Museum Accession Number: 1994.605.85a–c)
• Approx. Size: 150mm x 70mm x 65mm
• Approx. Weight: 230g
• Provenance:
• - From the collection of Edmond Wong; owner of Edmond Wong Antiques, Hollywood Road, Hong Kong.
• - Purchased from Edmond Wong by the succeeding collector on 10/07/2003 and henceforth held in a prestigious private collection in the United Kingdom.
• Condition: This piece is extremely well preserved and remains in excellent condition - refer images.
• Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Internationally recognised BidSafe authentication and verification number: 4998304-1)
• Inspected and verified by an archaeologist and prominent historical author with a PhD in archaeology. (SN:4998304-1) (310990-1)

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