Lot 903
903
A RARE WHITE AND PALE BROWN JADE FIGURE OF A SEATED FOREIGN MUSICIAN
PROPERTY FROM THE WILLIAM S. ARNETT COLLECTION, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
A RARE WHITE AND PALE BROWN JADE FIGURE OF A SEATED FOREIGNer

TANG-EARLY MING DYNASTY, 9TH-14TH CENTURY

Details
A RARE WHITE AND PALE BROWN JADE FIGURE OF A SEATED FOREIGNer
TANG-EARLY MING DYNASTY, 9TH-14TH CENTURY
The thick figure depicts a bearded, foreign musician shown seated with one leg bent under the body as he holds what appears to be a cloth-draped object. He wears a belted robe that falls in ribbed folds under the body and between his legs worn over his loose pants. His head is turned to the side and his face is well carved with down-turned mouth, a small nose and well-defined eyes. The well polished, white stone is suffused with fine russet-brown veining.
2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm.) high
Provenance
William A. Arnett Collection, Atlanta, Georgia, acquired prior to 1971.
Exhibited
On loan: High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia, September 1973 to September 1980.
On loan: Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 1993.

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Lot Essay

During the Tang dynasty, foreigners were a popular motif on jade belt plaques. A number of these are illustrated in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum - 41 - Jadeware (II), Hong Kong, 1995, pls. 22-27. The bearded foreign musician playing a flute on the plaque in pl. 22, wears a similarly depicted robe, and the seated foreign musician on the plaque in pl. 23, appears to be playing a sheng.

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