East Asia, China, Tang Dynasty, ca. 618 to 907 CE. A pair of wonderfully preserved mold made attendant figures, each covered in thick, colorful, sancai glaze. The nearly identical figures each wear long robes over longer tunics; their feet peek out from the bottom and form a sturdy base. Their hands are clasped in front of their chests and they wear interesting double-looped headdresses. Both have faces with wide, staring eyes, impressive browlines, and slight smiles. Size of one: 5.5" W x 22.5" H (14 cm x 57.2 cm); 23.45" H (59.6 cm) on included custom stand.

The Tang Dynasty was a golden age in China, when its control of oases along the Silk Road allowed both the export of Chinese goods and the import of people and ideas from places like India, Persia, and even further afield. The capital city, Changan (modern day Xian) had 2 million inhabitants, making it one of the largest cities in the world at the time, and there was a large class of literati and artisans supported by the government who lived there. This artisan class had the luxury to produce these beautiful figures. After a mold was used to form them into basic shapes, artists would then use scrapers and hand-modelling to give them their individuality.

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.

Provenance: private Vero Beach, Florida, USA collection; ex-old English collection, London, UK, purchased in the 1950s

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#153236

The darker of the two has a repair on its foot. The other has a small loss from its foot. Otherwise in excellent condition with glaze in very nice condition. Both have been TL tested and have small drill holes in unobtrusive locations.