RARE Ancient Chinese Clay Stoneware Tomb Model Cook Stove with Fish Han Dyn.

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RARE Ancient Chinese Clay Stoneware Tomb Model Cook Stove with Fish Han Dyn. :
$6125.00

Ancient Civilizations

Antiques, Artifacts & Fine Collectables

Ancient ChineseEarthenware Cooking Stove

Est.Han Dynasty

206BC—220 AD

ThisHan Dynasty Clay Ritual Pottery Stove is about 2,000 years old and is in “asfound” condition, with no restoration. Excavationdirt, mineral deposits, detached tree roots that cling to the inside of thestove [see photo # 10], and slight deterioration on one clay corner of the stove [see photo # 9] all attest tothe authentic nature of this wonderful ancient artifact.

Itmeasures approximately 10.75” long x 7.6” wide x 3.25” tall and weighs about 5 lbs.

DETAILS:

Thisancient ceramic model of a Chinese cooking stove dates approximately to the HanDynasty (206 BC-220 AD). This miniaturecooking stove would have been made to accompany the soul of the departed to theafterlife in ancient China. Similarexamples can be found in the world’s finest museums.

Thislovely example has a single removable chimney that would have carried the smokeaway on a full-sized cook stove. The clay chimney fits flush into the 2.8”diameter hole in the top of the stove. {see photos # 11-12}Firewood would have been added under the stove through the small doorwaycut into one end of the stove—just like the full-sized one.

Thetop of the stove also has tiny molded examples of what cookware and tableware wouldhave looked like on a real stove. Thiscooking stove was made by assembling flat, clay panels to build a miniaturewood stove and then adding the cooking items to the top of the stove beforefiring. There are two, cooking caldronsmolded into the top to represent the cooking areas of the model stove.

Butwhat I really like about this particular example is the 2.5” long fish that hasbeen molded into the top of the stove as if it was frying on the stove-top! What a lovely addition! {Please see detailed photos # 1-4}

Modelsof stoves, both in bronze and ceramic, were popular during the Han Dynasty, butbecame rare in later periods. In ancientChina—like in ancient Egypt and Persia,—the afterlife was conceived as acontinuation of life on earth. Toprovide for the needs of the afterlife, a variety of mortuary objects would be buriedin the tomb so that the person’s soul could enjoy a safe journey and eternalhappiness in the next world.

Thereare several clay household item molded into the top of the stove as modelrepresentatives of actual household cooking items. You can see a fish in the corner, and upsidedown “ear cup” with two handles, and even a large table knife. The only thing missing is the handle of theknife on top of the stove, which separated from the top surface of the stove(see photo # 5).

Thisceramic stove would have been used by the model chef that would have also havebeen made of clay and would have come to life and prepare the delicacies mostfavored by our tomb occupant in the afterlife.This would show the gods that the deceased was a powerful and wealthyperson on Earth. These tomb or mortuaryobjects, known as (ming-ch'i), could number into the thousands forwealthy and powerful emperors and members of their royal courts.

{REF: The Mingqi Pottery Buildings of Han DynastyChina, 206 BC-AD 220} byQinghua Guo.

Themost famous example is the massive full-sized, Terracotta Army or the"Terracotta Warriors and Horses" that are a huge collection of full-size,terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperorof China. They were a form of funeraryart buried with the emperor in 206 BC–220 AD and whose purpose was to protect theemperor in his afterlife.

TheseHan Dynasty ceramic tomb models, figurines, architectural models, farmyardanimals, and horses made specifically for the tomb (in Chinese “ming-ch'i”)are justifiably famous and can be found in most of the world’s major museumsand in fine private collections.

Thisis your opportunity to own an authentic, clay cooking stove from the HanDynasty. It was imported from Chinaprior to 1970, so it is legal to own and enjoy.China now strictly foroffers the export of these historic national items.

HanDynasty Ceramics
206 B.C. - A.D. 220

TheHan Dynasty is notable for its concentration on organized ceramic production.Mass-produced functional vessels, some stamped with place names andgovernment offices, suggest that a true nationwide industry had come intoexistence and that some ceramic workshops were already state controlled.

Moldsaided tremendously in the manufacture of identical vessels, but the mostimportant technical innovation was the development of lead glazing. Theselow-fired glazes were colored with copper to produce green, or iron to createyellow or brown. The toxicity of lead however meant that these new glazeswere best suited to mortuary pottery rather than daily use.

Whilesoft-bodied lead-glazed wares were manufactured largely in central China, thecoastal region of southern China continued the production of high-firedstoneware incorporating a wood or ash glaze with a yellow-green color rangethat can be considered an early form of celadon. The expanded Han repertoirealso included painted grey ware, which often imitated lacquer ware, burnishedblack ware, and stamped and incised decoration both glazed and unglazed.

Hanceramic tomb figurines, architectural models, farmyard animals, and horsesmade specifically for the tomb (ming-ch'i) are justifiably famous.

REF: MinneapolisInstitute of Arts

CONDITION

This Han Dynasty Clay Ritual Pottery Stove isabout 2,000 years old and is in “as found” condition, with no restoration. It is in very well preserved, old burialcondition overall with some amount of soil adhering on the piece due to thelong burial time underground. Excavationdirt, mineral deposits, and slight deterioration of one clay corner of thestove all attest to the authentic nature of this wonderful ancientartifact. One can even see where treeroots remain wrapped around the inside of the stove while it was buried forabout 2000 years. [see photo # 10]

AUTHENTICITY

Each object I sell is professionally researched, translated (if I can...(smile), and compared with similar objects in the collections of the finest museums in the world. I have been dealing in fine antiquities for over 45 years and although certainly not an expert in every field, I have been honored to appraise, buy, collect, and enjoy and recently sell some of the finest ancient art in the world. When in doubt, I have worked with dozens of subject matter experts to determine the condition and authenticity of numerous antiquities and antiques. This careful examination helps to insure you are buying quality items and helps to protect your investment. There are many modern reproductions or "fakes" on the market today, so be sure and buy only from experts in the field.

Please examine the photos taken at 4x macro carefully as they are part of the description.

Thestand and AA battery are not part of the sale, just included to give you a better perspective.

Note: Please ask any questions you may have before you offer! Thanks for Looking!

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