Group of Ten Pottery Musician Figures

Han Dynasty, China, 206 BCE–220 CE Group of ten painted terracotta musician figures modeled as part of a ceremonial ensemble during the Han Dynasty. Created as mingqi funerary objects, the figures were intended to provide music and ritual entertainment for the deceased in the afterlife. Each sculpture displays individualized posture and musical gesture, reflecting the importance of court performance culture within early imperial China. Traces of original pigment remain visible across the surfaces, preserving elements of their original ceremonial appearance and enhancing the historical character of the ensemble.