China, Tang Dynasty, ca. 618 to 907 CE. This is a beautifully formed hollow pottery tomb attendant depicting a noblewoman. She wears long robes and stands with her hands folded in front of her, holding a large piece of fruit. She has a large, upswept hairstyle and her face is serene, with small features and thick eyebrows. She would have been originally painted with mineral pigments and if you look closely, you can still seem some of these, especially in the fine features of her face. Hundreds of pottery figures like this one were carefully placed in the tombs of high-ranking people during the Tang period; one of the most interesting things about them is that they often seem to represent individuals rather than having been mass produced. The Tang Dynasty was a golden age in China, when its control of oases along the Silk Road allowed both the export of Chinese goods and the import of people and ideas from places like India, Persia, and even further afield. The capital city, Changan (modern day Xian) had 2 million inhabitants, making it one of the largest cities in the world at the time, and there was a large class of literati and artisans supported by the government who lived there. This artisan class had the luxury to produce these beautiful unique figures. After a mold was used to form figures like this into basic shapes, artists would then use scrapers and hand-modelling to give them their individuality. Size: 2.6" L x 3.8" W x 12.25" H (6.6 cm x 9.7 cm x 31.1 cm).

Provenance: Ex-Old New Orleans collection acquired in the 1960's.

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#112048

Intact with some dirt encrustation; however, the features are perfectly clear and some of the original pigment remains, especially on the face and head.