Lot Essay
Sancai-glazed figures of court ladies of this model are well-known and a classic element of the Tang Dynasty tomb retinue, but large scale figures such as this one are somewhat rare, more so, with this type of high unusual double-swept topknot hairstyle and blue shawl.
An example of the well-known sancai versions with the hair in a single high bun, but without the addition of blue, was sold at Christie's, New York, March 20, 1997, lot 162. Another is illustrated by Li Zhi Yan, The Art of the Glazed Pottery of China, Hong Kong, 1989, p. 43, fig. 170. Another example with different hairstyle was sold at Sotheby's, London, June 7, 1988, lot 78.
Yet another similarly attired figure but with the shawl draped over the right arm, glazed in more somber tones of brown and cream and excavated at Luoyang, is illustrated in Da sancai, Luoyang Museum and Luoyang Provincal Museum, 1989, Catalogue, pl. 26; and another excavated in 1981 from the tomb of An Pu, Luoyang, Henan province, was included in the exhibition, Son of Heaven, Imperial Arts of China, Seattle, 1988, Catalogue, no. 136, pl. 205.
An example of the well-known sancai versions with the hair in a single high bun, but without the addition of blue, was sold at Christie's, New York, March 20, 1997, lot 162. Another is illustrated by Li Zhi Yan, The Art of the Glazed Pottery of China, Hong Kong, 1989, p. 43, fig. 170. Another example with different hairstyle was sold at Sotheby's, London, June 7, 1988, lot 78.
Yet another similarly attired figure but with the shawl draped over the right arm, glazed in more somber tones of brown and cream and excavated at Luoyang, is illustrated in Da sancai, Luoyang Museum and Luoyang Provincal Museum, 1989, Catalogue, pl. 26; and another excavated in 1981 from the tomb of An Pu, Luoyang, Henan province, was included in the exhibition, Son of Heaven, Imperial Arts of China, Seattle, 1988, Catalogue, no. 136, pl. 205.