Ca. 618-906 AD A terracotta female musician figure playing the flute. The lady is depicted in kneeling position, wearing long red coloured robe and cream top. The hair is neatly combed into a coiffure consisting of a double bun. The face is covered with white pigment, on which thin, slightly arched eyebrows, and narrow eyes have been outlined in black pigment, the small mouth has been painted in red.The highest-rated musicians at the Tang court performed seated, while the lower ranks played standing and were also treated less well in other respects.This piece has been precisely dated by means of a Thermo Luminescence analysis carried out by Ralf Kotalla, an independent German Laboratory. The samples collected date the piece to the period reflected in its style, whilst also showing no modern trace elements. The TL certificate with its full report will accompany this lot. Size: L:230mm / W:135mm ; 970g Provenance: East Anglian private collection; formerly acquired in the early 1990s in Hong Kong.