A Chinese Glazed Offering Table with Accessories, Ming Dynasty, ca. 1368 - 1644 CE

An unusually elaborate group of miniature glazed pottery furnishings and food offerings, comprising a rectangular offering table, a pair of horseshoe-back chairs, two pricket candlesticks, an ewer, a small vase, six larger dishes of food, three smaller dishes of food, and two bowls. The table is supported on four straight legs joined by stretchers, its rectangular top arranged with an assortment of food and vessels, including a fish, a pig's head, stacked cakes, and other delicacies. The accompanying chairs have elegantly curved horseshoe backs, shaped armrests, and textured seats, all raised on rectangular bases. The various elements are decorated in rich green and ochre glazes, with areas of unglazed terracotta. Such miniature furnishings and food offerings were made as mingqi, or spirit objects, intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife.

Representing the comforts and necessities of daily life, these models provided the deceased with the furnishings, food, and other provisions they would require in the next world. During the Ming Dynasty, ceramic funerary models frequently depicted domestic interiors, household furniture, servants, and elaborate arrangements of food, offering a fascinating glimpse into contemporary customs and material culture. This particularly appealing group recreates a formal dining or offering arrangement, complete with chairs, serving vessels, candlesticks, and a variety of carefully modeled foods. The inclusion of recognizable dishes, together with the distinctive furniture forms, provides an interesting record of Ming Dynasty dining traditions and the importance of food offerings in Chinese funerary practice.

Published and Illustrated: M. White, Living at the Whites' House: Ceramics from the Mary and Peter White collection, vol. 4, n.p., 2023, pp.200-201 (the chairs) M. White, Eating at the Whites' House: Ceramics from the Mary and Peter White collection, vol. 3, n.p., 2022, p.21 (part).

Medium: Terracotta, glaze

Dimensions: Table length: 10 1/2 inches (26.6 cm)

Condition: Overall in good condition, with scattered glaze wear, minor chips, and surface deposits consistent with age. Some losses and wear to the extremities of the individual elements, with much of the original green and ochre glazing preserved.

Provenance: From the Peter and Mary White Collection of Chinese Art, acquired circa 1995. Formed over many decades, the collection reflects the Whites' deep interest in world history, human civilization, and their fascination with a medium that transcends cultures: ceramics. Comprising over 3,000 pieces, the Whites have assembled a museum-like collection of world ceramics, from China and Japan to Europe, ranging from Antiquity to the 19th century.