China - Pair Of Glazed Terracotta Furniture - Ming - Tl

Two small, miniature pieces of furniture, crafted from terracotta and covered in a deep green glaze, seem to emerge untouched from a silent world: the funerary dwellings of Ming dynasty China. Their compact, slightly slender form evokes the chests and cabinets found in homes of the period, here transposed to the scale of ritual and intended not to hold objects, but to accompany the deceased in the imagined continuity of their daily life. Their facades, structured with molded panels, allow light to permeate them: the glaze is deposited in thick drips, sometimes almost translucent, sometimes saturated like a still-hot enamel. Small areas of wear, where the light clay reappears, tell of slow burial, contact with the earth, the passage of time. The surface possesses that particular breath of Ming funerary objects: a noble fragility, a patina whose softness has developed over centuries. On each piece of furniture rests a ritual object that completes its symbolic presence. On the first, a compact, powerful tripod ding, whose three slender legs seem still ready to support an unseen offering. The saturated green of its glaze, streaked with honey hues, gives it an almost mineral density. On the second, a baluster vase, with its delicately elongated curve, suggests the presence of sacred liquids, perfumed oils, or essences intended to purify the funerary space. Its narrow neck and simple proportions extend this discreet aesthetic, characteristic of Ming folk art. These two miniatures belong to the tradition of mingqi, these “luminous objects” placed in tombs to maintain order, stability, and the comfort of a reconstructed dwelling for the deceased. Here, the furniture evokes the home, the ritual objects evoke worship: together, they compose a fragment of life transposed into eternity. Their presence is gentle, touching, almost domestic—as if the craftsman wished to preserve, for the soul's journey, a touch of familiar warmth. The patina, the coherence of the volumes, the green glaze typical of provincial workshops, and the restrained modeling confirm an authentic Ming production, probably dating from between the 15th and 17th centuries. The set is distinguished by its balance, its harmony, and the rarity of the pair still accompanied by its original ritual vessels.
The object is accompanied by a thermoluminescence test, confirming the authenticity of the dating.
Origin: China.
Period: Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).
Dimensions: Height 19 cm; Length 13.5 cm; Width 7 cm.
Provenance: French private collection.