Object Description
A finely sculpted terracotta Tang dynasty court lady standing in a relaxed and refined stance. Her right hand is raised in an elegant gesture across her chest, with her left hand concealed by the loosely draping sleeve. The lady displays distinctive characteristics of an imperial court lady of the Tang Dynasty, such as elongated eyes, pointed nose, and a dimpled chin. Her full cheeks are painted with a light rouge-coloured pigment, and her small lips in a bright red. Her hair is gathered into a characteristic court coiffure, featuring a top knot drawn-up high known as a ‘fallen horse’ chignon. She is portrayed wearing a long robe known as a Qixiong Ruqun (齐胸襦裙, a long sleeve garment including a skirt with the waistband above the breasts and an upper garment tucked inside), a typical fashion during the Tang Dynasty. The garment falls to her feet with detailed pleats showing the folds in the loose fabric, giving the figure a sense of grace and dynamism. It is pigmented with the colours green, ochre, red and brown, which are still visible to the surface. The figure’s shoes, Qiào tóu lǚ (翘头履, shoes with toes upturned), was another popular style in the Tang Dynasty, and would help prevent stepping on long garments. The heads of these shoes are decorated with floral patterns, and peep out from the hem of her dress. The figure stands atop a heptagonal flattened base, which features a hole underneath for the firing process.
This piece is accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report no. 47CM180321 from Kotalla Laboratory.
Date: Circa 618-907 AD
Period: Tang Dynasty