Statuettes from the Kingdom of Chu. China, era of the Warring Kingdoms (480-221 BC).

Pair of statuettes from the Kingdom of Chu. China, time of the Warring Kingdoms (480-221 BC).
Wood and silk.
Provenance: Acquired at the Punchinello Gallery, Paris.
Measurements: 54 cm and 55 cm (height).

The funerary statuettes of the Chu Kingdom, in ancient China, were often clay or bronze figures representing people or animals, and were used in tombs to serve the deceased in the afterlife. These figurines could be of different types, including figures of guards, servants, animals or mythological beings, and were sometimes depicted with tools or objects related to their work or function.

The Kingdom of Chu was an ancient state in central and southern China during the period of the Springs and Autumns (722-481 BC) and the Warring Kingdoms (481-221 BC). It was one of the largest and most powerful states of its time, with significant influence on Chinese history and culture.

The Warring Kingdoms or Warring States is a period of Chinese history that began in the 5th century B.C. and ended in the unification of China by the Qin dynasty in 221 B.C. It is usually considered the second part of the Eastern Zhou dynasty, following the Spring and Autumn period. The Warring Kingdoms period, in contrast to the Spring and Autumn period, was a period when regional warlords annexed smaller states around them and consolidated their rule.