This finely modeled terracotta figure represents a standing court lady from the Chinese Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), a period celebrated for its vibrant court culture, poetry, music, and cosmopolitan aesthetics. The figure exhibits the characteristic full, rounded facial features and elaborate coiffure associated with Tang feminine ideals, along with gracefully draped robes that animate the garment folds and lend a sense of quiet poise. Traces of original pigment remain visible across the surface, a reminder that these figures were once richly colored.
Court lady figures of this type were traditionally placed in tombs as mingqi, or “spirit goods,” intended to accompany and serve the deceased in the afterlife. Their presence also reflected the wealth and status of the household, making them historically significant markers of Tang elite culture. Today they hold strong appeal for collectors of early Chinese art due to their refined modeling, expressive restraint, and direct connection to one of China’s most culturally influential dynasties.
The figure retains a pleasing archaeological surface with expected losses to pigment and earthen encrustations consistent with age and burial, and is in nice antique condition overall. The sale includes a Certificate of Authenticity documenting its identification and period. An evocative example of early Chinese funerary sculpture that bridges art history, archaeology, and connoisseurship. 13h x 4.5w x 3d
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