I have these two real Burial figures from either the Ming dynasty or the Tang Dynasty.
They were actually taken from one of the Tomb's by my Grandfather iwhen he was in his 20's.
I remember him saying they were from the Ming Tomb...
I have no clue, one looks like one I saw from the Tang dynasty..
I would like to know if my Grandpa's  thieving ways was worth talking a dead Ming's burial figure or a Tang figure...
The other thing is this framed well you have to see. That is all Jade and Ivory. This was given to my Grandpa Lieutenant Colonel Dunagin in 1969 from the Republic of China for his help.
The Jade and the Ivory alone is worth a lot. Â Any help would be great. I been holding on to these ever since 1987 18 years old I'm 47 now and I think the mystery needs to be over.. Â .
Re: Two Clay Ming Dynasty Burial figures
If these are worth anything point me that wayÂ
Re: Two Clay Ming Dynasty Burial figures
I would think more likely Ming Dynasty and the Ming tombs (Shishan Ling) for the origin of these funerary tomb attendants - but are they possibly replicas sold at markets in the vicinity or, if genuine, stolen from the Palace Museum as one would imagine the tombs themselves were heavily guarded and even archeologists have their ways of making sure nothing leaves a site. Certainly they look impressive with their residual orange terracotta and black and red pigment, both valid materials of the time, but I think you need to hand them over physically to a specialist in this field to verify.
Re: Two Clay Ming Dynasty Burial figures
Is the material of which the Chinese characters (kanji) are made the same as the base under the vase? It has just struck me the base has a shine to it, which may be white jade in keeping with rest of picture, whereas the characters would lend themselves to being better carved in ivory given the detail required.
Re: Two Clay Ming Dynasty Burial figures
Pieces like this really require a physical examination by a specialist , I'd suggest contacting one of the big auction houses like Sothebys or Christies for a referral to one of their specialists.