The court lady seated on a stool, the lady's unglazed face gracefully painted with fine pigments, topped by a classical Tang dynasty "shuanghuan ji" hair style, the right hand holding a floral spray against her chest, the other hand rests on her knee, a cream-glazed scarf draped to her left shoulder, the elongated, finely-pleated amber, cream and green-glazed robe extended to her shoes with upturned toes, the waisted stool decorated with molded lappets with conjoined foliate scroll motif, all on a short, shaped base. Accompanied by an original Oxford Authentication Centre Thermoluminescence Test result no. 866d60, dated 12 February 1997 stating the results are consistent with the suggested period of manufacture.

PROVENANCE:

S. Marchant & Son, London
Property from a private collection, Bethesda, Maryland, acquired from the above, February 24, 1999

NOTE:

The present figure is an elegant member of a small sub-group of Tang dynasty sancai-glazed pottery figures, created for an aristocratic tomb. These seated figures of court ladies are portrayed in a variety of dress and with varying objects held in their hands. For a slightly larger (13 3/4" high) seated lady, see the example sold at Sotheby's, New York, September 21, 2021, lot 179. Compare also the 14 3/4" high seated lady with a weasel at her breast, sold at Sotheby's, New York, September 23, 2020, lot 691. For a seated lady with molded pattern to her gown, see the piece sold at Sotheby's, New York, September 11, 2019, lot 741. For a less elaborate example, see the 14 1/2" high seated lady, sold at Christie's, New York, September 19, 2005, lot 182.