Ming Dynasty Green Glazed Pottery Offering Chest zodiac where the High Priest would

where the High Priest would sacrifice a llama to divine the future through its entrails—an act of profound religious significance

originally sealed with soft material stoppers that have long since disappeared

Part of the foot are missing

interspersed with fine blue-and-white chevron beads from Murano

showcasing the refined craftsmanship of this advanced civilization

Ming Dynasty Green Glazed Pottery Offering Chest zodiac where the High Priest wouldMing Dynasty, c. 15501644, China A rare and evocative pottery model of a storage chest, crafted as part of a Ming Dynasty tomb group. The piece rests on a rectangular base and is almost entirely covered in a lustrous deep green glaze with black undertones, while the lock plate, handles, and back rings are highlighted in a lighter green. The unglazed top suggests something may once have been placed above it, while the underside is pierced with five