Han Dynasty Court Attendant

£ 895.00

A stunning terracotta statuette of a Han lady court attendant.

The statuette shows traces of the original red, black, and white pigmentation. The figure is standing with arms at her sides, wearing a long skirt and a full-length robe. This robe has long swagged sleeves and a lapel, which is pulled across from the left and fastened on the right. Poking out at the collar is a roll of fabric from the undergarments. The long skirt, which is tight around the legs before cascading dramatically outwards, is characteristic of early Han figural art. The facial features, such as eyes, lips, nose, and eyebrows, are picked out by delicate painting: the white colour of the face reflects the traditional makeup of the time. The hair is pulled back from the face. The figure’s body, head, and hands (which in this case are lost) were all made separately to give her an essence of movement and dynamism.

Date: Circa 206 BC – 220 AD
Period: Han Dynasty
Condition: Very fine condition; some signs of ageing and earthy encrustations on the surface.

SOLD

The are a large number of female attendants found in Han Dynasty tombs, indicative of the need for continued assistance into the afterlife. As in life, attendant figures are stood up, waiting to fulfil the desires and needs of the deceased.

To discover more about Chinese terracotta statuettes, please visit our relevant blog post: Terracotta Tomb Attendants.

 

 

Weight 6450 g
Dimensions W 24.5 x H 41 cm
Culture

Pottery and Porcelain

Region

Country

Reference: For similar, see the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Item 1997.1.1

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