A Terracotta Figure of a Long Sleeved Dancer

Western Han Dynasty, China, 206 BCE–220 CE Painted terracotta figure of a dancing lady portrayed in an elegant pose with elongated sleeves characteristic of ceremonial court dance during the Han Dynasty. The figure wears flowing robes colored with a white slip, reflecting the refined aesthetic of Han funerary sculpture. Figures of this type were created as mingqi burial objects for elite tombs, celebrating music, performance, and courtly culture while accompanying the deceased in the afterlife. The graceful movement and stylized drapery mark the figure as an aristocratic entertainer.