East Asia, China, Tang Dynasty, ca. 618 to 906 CE. A beautiful set of two hollow-molded pottery tomb attendants in the form of advisors or personal attendees to the deceased. Each figure stands upon petite feet that are nearly hidden beneath the lower fringe of their lengthy robes which are glazed in the characteristic Sancai (literally "three colors") glaze of orange, yellow, and green hues. The figures hold their hands together in front of their chests with a narrow perforation between their palms, perhaps for holding a staff, pennant, or candle. Their protruding faces are accentuated with areas of faint pink-red pigment and bear rounded cheeks and chins, broad noses, full lips, and slightly furrowed brows beneath tall caps with lappets that drape down across their shoulders. Size of largest: 3.5" W x 10.4" H (8.9 cm x 26.4 cm)
Provenance: private Vero Beach, Florida, USA collection, acquired 1980s from an old English collection
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#164256
Condition
Original hand implements missing as shown. Stable fissures to joint seams between front and back mold halves, with minor abrasions, fading to areas of original glaze, and light encrustations within palm perforations, otherwise intact and very good. Great remains of glaze across both figures.