CHINESE TANG DYNASTY TERRACOTTA FEMALE ATTENDANT - TL TESTED

Ca. 618-907 AD. A terracotta figure of standing female attendant standing upright, with a hollow moulded body. The detailing of the figure is exquisite, with a finely detailed face, accentuated lips, and a hairstyle that is parted at the top of her head and ends in a double bun. The long robe that the female attendant wears is comprised of a cream-colored skirt, a reddish bodice, and a long shawl. She holds a tray with a vessel in front of her with both hands, indicating that she was likely a servant or attendant in life. This figure is a striking example of Mingqi, a burial object, that was commonly placed in tombs to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. This piece has been precisely dated by means of a Thermo Luminescence analysis carried out by Ralf Kotalla, an independent German Laboratory. The samples collected date the piece to the period reflected in its style, whilst also showing no modern trace elements. The TL certificate with its full report will accompany this lot. Size: L:270mm / W:95mm ; 835g Provenance: From the private collection of a Somerset gentleman; previously in an old British collection, formed in the 1980s on the UK /European art markets.