Lot 691. A pottery figure of a court lady, Tang dynasty (618-907). Estimate 40,000 — 60,000 HKD. Lot sold 62,500 HKD. Photo Sotheby's.

modelled standing wearing a long pleated robe, her hands gathered at her chest and covered with long sleeves, rendered with a plump face framed by a veil, the reddish earthenware with traces of white slip and coloured pigments, fabric stand; 34.5 cm, 13 5/8  in.

Property from the Collection of Alberto Giuganino (1887-1979)

Note: Another similar figure but with a high chignon, excavated in 1955 from tomb 131 at Gaolou Village, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, was included in the exhibition The Quest for Eternity, Los Angeles County Museum, 1987, cat. no. 83, where it was explained that funerary figures of plump ladies dressed in loose flowing robes demonstrated the ideals of beauty during the high Tang period. See a related Tang dynasty pottery figure of a court lady, sold in our New York rooms, 1st December 1992, lot 239 and later at Christie’s New York, 20th March, 2014. 

Sotheby's. Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 02 Jun 2016