Lot Essay
This figure closely resembles the famous figure holding a small dog in the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka. Refer to Gajuji Hasebe and Masahiko Sato, Sekai Toji Zenshu, vol. II, Tokyo, 1976, pl.29. Similar pieces were unearthed from the tomb of Wu Shouzhong (died A.D.748), near Xian, Shaanxi, of which two were recently exhibited in this country. Refer to The Quest for Eternity, Chinese Ceramic Sculptures from the People's Republic of China, Los Angeles, 1987, Catalogue nos.83 and 84. Refer also to Schloss, Ancient Chinese Ceramic Sculpture, vol.I, pp. 164-5, for a detailed description of this group of 'fat ladies'.
In tomb sculpture of the 8th Century, a more substantial female figure type can be seen to have come into favour, in contrast to the willowy figure type of the Sui and early Tang. The vogue for plumpness towards the middle of the century may perhaps be explained by the Emperor Xuanzong's well-known indulgence of his favourite concubine, the voluptuous Lady Yang Guifei.
Compare a similar court lady sold in our New York Rooms, 2 June 1989, lot 136.
The result of Hong Kong University thermoluminescence test no. 0884 is consistent with the dating of this lot
In tomb sculpture of the 8th Century, a more substantial female figure type can be seen to have come into favour, in contrast to the willowy figure type of the Sui and early Tang. The vogue for plumpness towards the middle of the century may perhaps be explained by the Emperor Xuanzong's well-known indulgence of his favourite concubine, the voluptuous Lady Yang Guifei.
Compare a similar court lady sold in our New York Rooms, 2 June 1989, lot 136.
The result of Hong Kong University thermoluminescence test no. 0884 is consistent with the dating of this lot