Pottery Figurine Holding a Fan

This 61.4 cm-tall pottery figurine, excavated in Pi County, Chengdu, vividly reflects everyday life in the Shu region during the Han Dynasty. Its head and body were made separately before being joined together, demonstrating the mature ceramic techniques of the period. The figure wears a flower tucked into each side of her coiled hairstyle and bears a gentle, contented smile. She holds a fan before her chest with her left hand, while her right hand rests naturally on her right knee. Decorative ornaments adorn her index and middle fingers. She is dressed in a crimson, pleated-collar robe with wide sleeves, its flowing folds rendered in clear, elegant lines.

Unlike the more solemn and restrained pottery figurines commonly found in the Central Plains, this work conveys the prosperity, ease, and confidence associated with the Land of Abundance. The fan in her hand serves not only as a practical object but also as a symbol of etiquette and social status.