Mingqi (3) - Terracotta, Glazed - A Group ofStraw-Glazed Pottery Figures of Two Female Dancers and a Musician - China - Sui Dynasty (581–618) - Early Tang Dynasty (618-907)

Very good condition. Our Guarantee: The above item is guarantee to be of the time period and condition as described, has been exported legally and is legal to buy and sell under all international lows to cultural patrimony. Please be advised that this group of straw-glazed musicians and dancer is exceptional and rare, and can be find very hard in the European art market at the moment. Provenance: Dutch private collection P. van der B. Amsterdam. Sui dynasty – early Tang dynasty. The musician height 22 cm. Two dancers height 20 cm. , each All three shown standing, the musician playing the panpipe (pai xiao) , the two figurines of female dancers are dancing with sleeve movements. This dance is known from the Zhou dynasty and earlier in China. All covered with a translucent straw glazed of greenish-yellow tone. Those three figures illustrated the popularity not only of foreign dress during the Sui and Tang dynasties, but of the taste for music, instruments and dance of Central Asia, particularly Sogdiana and Kucha, said to have been introduced to the court by the Turkic wife of Emperor Wudi (r. 551-578) . Compare a group of dancers and musicians in the Ontario Museum illustrated in Homage of Heaven, Homage to Earth, Toronto, 1992, p. 148, no. 85 Condition: The musician in perfect condition, the left sleeve of one dancer restored, the right sleeve of other dancer restored. Two small holes to the back of the heads of the dancers, originally carved by the firing of the figures. Furthermore for its age all three in very good condition. - A Certificate of Authenticity from Becker Antiques (specialist in Chinese pottery since 1969, Amsterdam) will accompany the item. - All items legal to buy/sell under The Netherlands covering cultural patrimony, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. Important information. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. It will be professionally packed and safely send in a wooden crate by Fed. Ex. About us Becker Antiques is one of the most leading reputable antique dealers in the Netherlands. Becker Antiques is a name and place that speaks of excellent antiques and art, superb service and worldwide expertise. Founded in 1969 by Jan Simon Becker, Becker Antiques is based in Museum quarter, Amsterdam Oud-Zoud, in a magnificent five-floor townhouse build 1891, at a few minutes from “Rijksmuseum” (National Museum of Art) , the Van Gogh Museum and the famous “Royal Concertgebouw”. Becker Antiques main field covers ceramics – pottery funerary figures (dated from the Han through the Ming dynasties) , Buddhist sculptures and other Chinese works of art. Our other sections are Asian works of art – concerns objects from Japan and South East Asian countries including bronze, stone and wooden sculptures, Chinese furniture from the Qing Dynasty and of course occasional other items. For the last 50 years we have been selling antiques to museums, private collectors and dealers all over the world. The seller of this lot hereby guarantees that this object was obtained legally. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this object(s) . The seller will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer about this if this takes more than a few days. Catawiki disclaimer: This piece has been dated based on style , glaze and patina. No further tests, such as, a TL test, an analysis of pigments or radiography scans have been conducted to check the integrity of the piece.