A COCOON JAR WITH ORIGINAL PAINTING Lot n° 574

A COCOON JAR WITH ORIGINAL PAINTING Terracotta with original painting China, Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-9 AD) An impressively powerful execution of a rare type. Its appearance is especially strong in character and originally stemmed from the short-lived Qin dynasty, now famous for having brought forth the first Emperor of China (Qin Shi Huangdi). Emperor Shi Huangdi became world-famous when his gigantic Terracotta Army was discovered not far from Xi'an. The cocoon vase is named after the silk worm's co-coon (probably based in a ritual context) which also gives the vase's body a markedly wide, ovoid shape. The foot is round and slanted, while the neck is straight with a flared, strongly and almost calligraphically curved lip divided into multiple zones by vertical stripes. The colors on the gray background are white and orange-red. Dimensions: HEIGHT 23 CM Condition: Well preserved despite the piece’s considerable age Provenance: Collection of Herbert Keuper, Germany