A pair of mold-made and glazed ceramic soldier figures dressed in heavy armor, standing guard upon an integral hexagonal pedestal. Both are elaborately clad in mountain style armor, including chest plates, lion head shoulder pads, lamellar waist panels, and tunics that hangs almost to their booted feet. The heads are surmounted by tall, conical helmets – the heads were molded separately from the body and are removable. One figure holds a mace and the other holds a mask or lion face shield for frightening opponents. Both retain much of their vibrant hand applied sancai glaze in beautiful green and yellow, with painted cream, black, and pink-orange pigments

Tomb attendants like these are part of a class of artifacts called mingqi – sometimes known as “spirit utensils” or “vessels for ghosts.” They became popular in the Han Dynasty and would persist for several centuries. Alongside protective warriors were musicians, athletes, animals, and structures. Even though they were often mass produced, mingqi often show a high level of detail and naturalism. These were designed to assist the po, the part of the soul of the deceased that remained underground with the body while the hun, the other part of the soul, ascended.