Large Chinese Han Dynasty Pottery Dancer

An elegant and large grey earthenware Han Dynasty figure of a dancer. The clothing is typical, comprising a flowing, long-sleeved robe, and shoes just visible under the folds of the hem. The figure retains the original white slip and there is additional decoration in red, umber, and black pigments to show the facial features and the hair, which forms a long pony tail down below the shoulders. The potters have succeeded in imparting a vibrant sense of fluidity, displaying realism in the stance and adding movement and dimension by the curves of the long draped sleeves.