Sui Dynasty Straw Glazed Court Attendant

$947.22

A fine Chinese Sui Dynasty hollow-moulded straw glazed terracotta female court attendant statuette. The slender figurine’s court clothes are delicately modelled in the terracotta and her hair is arranged in a double top knot. She is portrayed standing in the classical stance for offerants, holding an offering object with both hands, and wearing the traditional court attire, known as ruqun.

Date: Circa 581-618 AD
Period: Sui Dynasty
Provenance: The C. Roger Moss OBE collection. The late C. Roger Moss OBE was a renowned art collector who, throughout the years, thanks to his determination and enthusiasm, was able to create an outstanding collection of artworks, most prominently from China and the Orient, but also from other cultures.
Condition: Extremely fine and well-preserved piece.

In stock

Although relatively short lived, the Sui Dynasty gave way to the great cultural developments that would later be expanded and consolidated by the Han Dynasty. This statuette was likely a ‘mingqi’, a burial figurine, viewed as a sort of utensil for the afterlife, and usually depicting everyday objects and people, such as dancers, court attendants, and servants. Mingqi figurines of dancers, musicians and court attendants would have been placed in the tomb with the deceased to ensure company and entertainment.

To discover more about the Roger Moss Collection, visit our Provenance Collection Page.

Weight 600 g
Dimensions H 25 cm
Culture

Pottery and Porcelain

Region

Glaze

Reference: For a similar item, Sotheby’s, 24th June 2020, New York, lot 1078.

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