NORTHERN WEI DYNASTY

Details

Two grey pottery figures of musicians
Northern Wei Dynasty
Both female musicians shown kneeling, one playing a tambourine, the other a lute-like instrument, dressed in red tunic lined with padded white hems, the helmet-like coiffure drawn up in a double knot above the delicately featured faces, traces of red, black and white pigment, some restoration
18.7 cm. high (2)

Special notice

Christie's charge a buyer's premium of 20.825% of the hammer price for lots with values up to NLG 200,000. If the hammer price exceeds the NLG 200,000 then the premium is calculated at 20.825% of the first NLG 200,000 plus 11.9% of any amount in excess of NLG 200,000.

Lot Essay

The double-knotted hairstyle of the musicians is unlike most other published examples of Northern Wei entertainers. It is possible that the style is an indication of the relative youth of the figures. Compare the Northern Wei figural group, and one of two musicians from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, sold in our New York Rooms, December 1, 1994, lots 140 and 141 and 20 March, 1997, lot 368.
In our Amsterdam Rooms a similar example was sold 10 May, 2000, lot 172.

The dating of this lot is consistent with the result of the thermoluminescence test ASA (Authentification et Datation d'Objets d'Art et d'Archéologie par Méthodes Scientifiques), reference number 10.25.10 - TL 201.181.

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