Tang Dynasty, Ca. AD 618 - 907.
A Chinese terracotta piece depicting a foreign entertainer holding a bird. The figure is painted in green, brown and black pigments. He is shown to be standing on a rectangular base, dressed in a belted long robe with the sleeves pulled up, revealing his strong forearm with the bird perched on his right hand. He has a short shawl over his shoulders, and the outfit is finished with tall black boots. His facial features are exaggerated with thick eyebrows, deep-set eyes, a prominent nose, full lips with a beard and moustache. The Tang dynasty enjoyed the reputation of being one of the most diverse dynasties in China, being highly tolerant and accepting of foreign cultures, with the Silk Road being a main influence. This piece has been precisely dated using a Thermo Luminescence analysis carried out by Ralf Kotalla. The report will accompany the lot.
Size: 475mm x 170mm; Weight: 2.79kg
Provenance: UK private collection; formerly acquired in the early 1990s in Hong Kong. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.