Ancient Chinese, Tang Dynasty Terracotta Court lady / funerary assistant in polychrome terracotta, mingqi - 24 cm

Female funerary figure / court attendant (mingqi)
China, attributable to the Sui dynasty–early Tang period, ca. late 6th–7th century CE
Modelled terracotta with remaining polychromy.
24 × 5.5 × 6 cm approx.

Elegant Chinese funerary figure in terracotta representing a lady or female court attendant, standing on a small rectangular base. The figure presents a frontal, hieratic composition, with the body extraordinarily stylized, the arms flexed and the hands gathered in front of the torso, probably originally hidden between the sleeves.

Notably the elevated hairstyle formed by a double bun, clearly differentiated and still retaining traces of dark pigment. This type of coiffure appears documented in both Northern Dynasties female figures and during the Sui period and early Tang; Christie’s precisely describes Northern Wei figures with hair arranged in a double knot, as well as early Tang attendants with elaborate double-knots.

The face shows delicately modeled features, with an elongated nose, small mouth and eyes and eyebrows still defined by dark pigment. The preservation of these pictorial details is particularly appealing. The body is covered by a long garment with a nearly columnar fall, slightly cinched at the waist, leaving visible the small feet on the base.

The surface retains traces of reddish, orange, black pigment and possible signs of a light engobe, especially interesting on the face and clothing. These polychrome decorations are characteristic of mingqi, sculptures made to form part of the funerary trousseau and to accompany the deceased symbolically in the afterlife.

The combination of a highly stylized anatomy, relatively naturalistic face and elaborate hairstyle stylistically places the piece in the Sui–early Tang transition, prior to the famous Tang ladies with much more voluminous forms of the 8th century. Mature Tang figures show precisely a shift toward fuller bodies and wider garments.

Condition: surface wear and erosion compatible with its typology; losses of polychromy, earthy deposits, small cracks, abrasions and flaking, especially at the base. It nevertheless retains a substantial portion of facial definition and traces of original decoration. See the photographs closely.

Catawiki disclaimer: This object has been dated based on style by the seller. No further tests, such as a TL test, C14 test, lapidary tests, analysis of pigments or radiography scans have been conducted to check the integrity of the piece.