Object Description
A finely carved unglazed terracotta tile dating from the Song Dynasty. To the front, a musician sits beneath a florid frame, a common motif in Buddhist art, derived from the Indian chaitya arch. The man is portrayed in a naturalistic manner, with a plump face and delicate features, emphasised by the exceptional retention of the original pink, red, and yellow pigmentation. He wears the traditional court attire, the shenyi, comprised of a long belted robe with wide sleeves, which gently rests on the the man’s legs revealing the outline of his bent knees. He is perhaps sitting on a tall stool, as he plays his instrument to entertain his master. In his hands is a ‘pipa’ (琵琶), a traditional Chinese musical instrument sometimes referred to as the “Chinese lute”. The reverse displays the palm imprints of the potter, forming a personal mark equivalent to a manuscript signature.
N.B. This item will require additional postage charges after checkout due to weight and size.
Date: AD 960-1279
Period: Song Dynasty