An extremely tall and large pottery model of a manorial servant (a peasant farmer who could be called upon for military service) with a detachable head. The body moulded with a ring-handled sword, a form of pick-axe and a winnowing tool. The figure wears a peaked cap and sandals on his feet. Height 109cm (43 inches).

With a Thermoluminescence Analysis Report from Oxford Authentication for the head confirming the period as Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 – 220); the body is untested and could possibly be later.

For reference: a similar, albeit smaller, example that was excavated in 1957 from Xinjin, Sichuan province, is illustrated and described in the 1996 British Museum book “Mysteries of Ancient China”. Another smaller and damaged example is also on display at the National Museum of China in Beijing.

Provenance: from the collection of the late Brian Page (1938-2018), the well-known Oriental art and antiques dealer from Brighton.