A Glazed Funerary Tower Model

Eastern Han Dynasty, Henan Province, China, 25–220 CE Glazed terracotta funerary tower created as a mingqi spirit object intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. Architectural models of this type symbolized status, protection, and prosperity while preserving an idealized vision of elite domestic life during the Han Dynasty. The structure features multi-tiered roofing, lattice windows, and miniature human figures engaged in ceremonial and daily activities. This watchtower is unusually tall, with three levels and two roofs. Finished in the characteristic green lead glaze associated with Han funerary ceramics, the surface retains naturally aged mineral deposits and iridescent patina formed through centuries of burial.