Hello again! Considering this images, this piece is: A very rare solidly-moulded, flat-backed, terracotta figurine of a, possibly, court attendant, following the style of Northern Zhou Dynasty. The attendant is portrayed in the standard position of Northern Zhou statuette, slightly bending forward, and wearing the traditional court attire, consisting of a short robe with long sleeves and a pointed cap, covering the figure’s ears. The right hand is held to the chest in the act of holding an offering, possibly incense. The right hand has been perforated for this purpose. The figure’s surface still displays traces of original pigmentations, which would have been applied after firing. A rare piece. Since the Han Dynasty, it was common practice to bury terracotta miniature of utilitarian and ornamental objects with the deceased; such items are known as mingqi, “spirit utensils” or “vessels for ghosts”. Mingqi were offered to assist and help the deceased in the afterlife, and they would have been modelled in the shape of cooking utensils, miniature replicas of houses and temples, as well as a range of furniture and other items. Anthropomorphic and zoomorphic terracotta reproductions were popular too, designed to assist and entertain the deceased and to recreate the world of the living. This piece has been dated based on style and patina. No further tests, such as, a TL test, an analysis of pigments or radiography scans have been conducted to check the integrity of the piece
