Lot Essay
Large court ladies (20in. or higher) holding animals are exceedingly rare. Only two others appear to have been published. One, of a lady holding a dog, from the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, is illustrated in Sekai toji zenshu, Shogakukan, Japan 1976, vol. 11, pp. 42 and 43, col. pl. 29, and is extremely similar, not only in the treatment of the long-sleeved robes but also in the chignon and facial expression. The other, holding, a bird is illustrated in the Tsui Museum of Art, Chinese Ceramics I, Hong Kong, 1993, Catalogue, no. 105, and subsequently sold at Christie's, New York, March 20, 1997, lot 56.
This charming figure resembles those figures being produced in the mid-8th century, around the time of the death of Wu Shouzhong in A.D. 748. The shape of the face, facial features and hair style are very similar to smaller figures of somewhat earlier date, circa second quarter of the 8th century, but the large size and style of clothing are comparable to those figures found in the tomb of Wu Shouzhong, Kaoloucun, Xi'an. For illustrations of both of these types of figures see Margaret Medley, Tang Pottery and Porcelain, London, 1981, p. 48, pl. 36-38 for the earlier, glazed type and p. 50, pls. 39 and 40 for the later, larger and unglazed type.
A smaller figure (15in. high) of related type shown with a bird perched on her right hand is illustrated by Ezekiel Schloss, Ancient Chinese Ceramic Sculpture, Stamford, 1977, vol. II, pl. 125.
See also another lady similar in stance, but empty-handed, sold at Christie's, New York, June 2, 1989, lot 136.
For a charming painting in colored inks on silk by the Tang artist Zhou Fang, depicting two elegant court ladies playing with a small dog, and entitled 'ladies-in-waiting', see Mary Tregear, Arts of China, Recent Discoveries, Tokyo, 1968, p. 115, no. 199.
The result of Oxford Authentication Ltd. thermoluminescence test no. C198x53 is consistent with the dating of this lot.
This charming figure resembles those figures being produced in the mid-8th century, around the time of the death of Wu Shouzhong in A.D. 748. The shape of the face, facial features and hair style are very similar to smaller figures of somewhat earlier date, circa second quarter of the 8th century, but the large size and style of clothing are comparable to those figures found in the tomb of Wu Shouzhong, Kaoloucun, Xi'an. For illustrations of both of these types of figures see Margaret Medley, Tang Pottery and Porcelain, London, 1981, p. 48, pl. 36-38 for the earlier, glazed type and p. 50, pls. 39 and 40 for the later, larger and unglazed type.
A smaller figure (15in. high) of related type shown with a bird perched on her right hand is illustrated by Ezekiel Schloss, Ancient Chinese Ceramic Sculpture, Stamford, 1977, vol. II, pl. 125.
See also another lady similar in stance, but empty-handed, sold at Christie's, New York, June 2, 1989, lot 136.
For a charming painting in colored inks on silk by the Tang artist Zhou Fang, depicting two elegant court ladies playing with a small dog, and entitled 'ladies-in-waiting', see Mary Tregear, Arts of China, Recent Discoveries, Tokyo, 1968, p. 115, no. 199.
The result of Oxford Authentication Ltd. thermoluminescence test no. C198x53 is consistent with the dating of this lot.