Dear Visitors,

Bienvenue on this site.

Many of us already felt emotion while contemplating these memories of the past ,be it on a visit of archaeological places or in the desert, in a museum or in an antique dealer.

I remember my seven years old son, as the visitors left a room of the castle of Loches (Loire's Castle), remaining behind the group to touch the pavement at a precise place. To my question "What are you doing" ? he answered spontaneously: " Think about it, Jeanne d.Arc knelt down here".

These objects of the past, and especially these Chinese terracottas, also called "mingqi", exert on us, in addition to their aesthetics, an attraction as if the fact of seeing or touching them established a link between past and present.

These mingqi belong to the funerary art of China and have replaced the animal or human sacrifices. At first time (Army in working order, six thousand human-sized statues of warriors - 210 bc), the terracottas were later miniaturized and "industrialized" in manufactures to reply to the large demand. The mingqi were made of several parts, moulded separately, then assembled, the joints being smoothed with a knife. It is peculiar to see on a pair of horses, at first sight identical, a detail which changes (tail, light orientation of the head...) according to the inspiration or the awkwardness of the artist.

These figurines got refined, coloured, covered with glazes (three-colors = " sancai ") as time went by and now represent a testimony of the evolution of everyday life. During Tang period, the number of mingqi authorized in a tomb had to be limited !

Many pieces have been manufactured, many undoubtedly remain to be discovered, a certain number are for sale, and unfortunately there is far too much forgery! If, on an aesthetic level, these reproductions are very satisfaing, they break the link between past and present to which I am so attached.

How to guard oneself against these forgeries? Quite simply by requiring for the piece coveted a scientific dating, certificate by thermoluminescence on the terra cotta (don't panic if one or two small holes are seen on the piece, they are samples taken from the mass), or by other methods like that of Carbon-14 for other materials such as wood.

For instance , all the parts presented in this site have their original ASA certificate(or other laboratory) of dating, with its stamp in relief, inimitable by photocopy or picture processing on computer. Other pieces, even certified by an expert or hooker salesmen (errare humanum est), are not accepted. Otherwise , collectors wishing to sell elements of their collection are welcome as long as they respect the above condition .

Obviously only part of the original pieces have crossed time, more than 2 000 years for some of them, without damage. However one can remain amazed by the perfect conservation of some, this is not due to the quality of the piece itself, but rather to the quality of the tomb.

Certain parts could undergo restorations, joining the tail for a horse, the arm of a human, a.s.o... and certain original materials, like wood or leather for example, could be replaced or reconstituted. This doesn't modify the sentimental or commercial value. In all the sales, including that of the appraisers, appears the mention "with restoration of usage".

If you are interested in any pieces , please contact me by e.mail : info@terrecuitechinoise.com or if you are looking for a particular object referring to funerary or religious art, Chinese obviously. Some of these objects will be exhibited alternatively in various towns of France during a few weeks and the place will be indicated on this site.

Good approach of these objects that Jean Paul Desroches * , Chairman of the museum of Asian Arts - Guimet (Paris), qualifies of "Companions of Eternity" that surrounded the deceased in his or her final resting-place.This term sticks to the mingqi so well.

Bernard DIZEUX

* Jean Paul Desroches has written many pleasant works to read and consult for their illustrations.