A blue-splashed and sancai seated figure of a lady, Tang dynasty | 唐 三彩女坐俑

Acquired in Hong Kong in 2000.

2000年購藏於香港

Long admired for their beauty and elegance, these earthenware figures of slender women offer a glimpse into Tang fashion and society. The cosmopolitan and international character of the dynasty had a significant impact on women, who were able to enjoy an unprecedented level of freedom and independence. Foreign fashion was favoured by noble women, as evidenced by these figures: the high waist of their skirts, long and tight sleeves, and low V-neck décolleté blouses, were inspired by Persian fashion. 

Amongst Tang sancai wares, blue-splashed figures, such as the present piece, were highly priced and remained rare since the colour was derived from cobalt which needed to be imported from the West.

A figure of similar size and coiffure was found in Guanlin, Luoyang, and is illustrated in Luoyang Tang Sancai, Beijing, 1980, pl. 2; and another is published in Ezekiel Schloss, Ming-Ch’i. Clay Figures Reflecting Life in Ancient China, New York, 1975, pl. 98, together with a related figure with a different hairstyle, pl. 97.