A Pair of Mandarin Ducks

Han Dynasty,206 BCE–220 CEThis pair of pottery waterfowl, likely geese or mandarin ducks, was created as mingqi—funerary objects placed in Han dynasty tombs to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. The birds are modeled with simple yet elegant forms, emphasizing their gracefully curved necks and rounded bodies. Although much of the original surface decoration has disappeared, traces of pigment, burial deposits, and weathering remain, reflecting centuries spent underground. In ancient Chinese culture, waterfowl such as geese and mandarin ducks were associated with fidelity, harmony, and prosperity. As tomb offerings, they symbolized both the comforts of daily life and the hope for abundance in the next world. Their inclusion in funerary assemblages reflects the Han belief that the deceased would continue to require companionship, sustenance, and the familiar pleasures of earthly existence in the afterlife.