Ancient Chinese, Tang Dynasty Terracotta THERMOLUMINESCENCE KOTALLA figure - 63 cm (No reserve price)

A singular presence and a true collector’s piece. Standing 63 cm tall, this Tang dignitary belongs to a type of large funerary figures rarely offered on the market. The combination of its imposing size, expressive face, foreign-influenced costume, and traces of polychromy gives it a particular appeal. Evoking cosmopolitan China along the Silk Road, this sculpture possesses the visual power and character one seeks to distinguish a collection of ancient art.

Thermoluminescence Kotalla: three zones analyzed:

The sculpture is accompanied by Thermoluminescence report no. 160921, prepared on September 21, 2021 by the Kotalla Laboratory in Germany. The result indicates ancient firing, “Fired in antiquity,” with an approximate dating of about 1,300 years ± 14%, compatible with the Tang dynasty.

Analyses concern three distinct samples: head, back, and foot. The report also mentions a pre-dose test confirming ancient firing with no indication of artificial X-ray treatment.

The provided dossier includes the sculpture’s photograph, the results and technical graphs, constituting a particularly valuable scientific accompaniment.

An evocative figure of the Silk Road:

Under the Tang, China experienced a period of openness and exchange with Central Asia, India, and Persia. The Silk Roads enabled the circulation of goods, but also beliefs, fashions, and artistic influences. Representations of foreign characters in funerary ensembles testify to this cosmopolitan society.

The crossed tunic, trousers, and tall boots of this figure evoke this world. Its costume suggests a foreign character or one marked by Central Asian influences, without allowing a precise origin to be asserted.

Mingqi figures intended to accompany the deceased symbolically recreated a entourage in the afterlife. Thus this sculpture combines a spiritual function with testimony to the human and cultural world of its time.

A defined modeling, still-preserved polychromy:

The face, the carefully formed ears, the belt, and the garment’s volumes give the whole its character. The arms laid along the body reinforce the silhouette’s verticality, while the large boots provide a strong visual base.

The salmon-pink traces on the shirt cuffs and legs contrast with the light terracotta. Dark accents further outline some contours of the clothing and the hair. These fragmentary colors contribute to the piece’s charm and to reading its ancient decoration.

Characteristics and conservation:

China — Tang Dynasty, 618–907
Subject: male figure, possibly a foreign character
Material: terracotta with vestiges of polychromy
Height: 63 cm — Weight: 7.75 kg
Display: modern plexiglass base
Thermoluminescence: Kotalla Laboratory, report no. 160921

Surface wear, losses of material and polychromy, deposits and irregularities visible. The numerous photographs allow appreciation of details and the state of conservation; they are an integral part of the description.

A large Tang figure combining sculptural presence, historical interest, and scientific documentation, for a collection dedicated to ancient Chinese art.

Careful packaging and secure shipment

The statue, its custom base, and the thermoluminescence report will be carefully protected for shipping. A reinforced rigid packaging, with padding suited to the terracotta’s fragility, will ensure the sculpture’s stability during transport. The base and the documents will benefit from separate protections within the package.