Description

Period: Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD) Terra-cotta over lead clay

A pair of Tang Dynasty female dancers. Both ladies are wearing a long flowing dress with flared sleeves. Their facial features are accentuated with black and white paint and their hair is arranged in elaborate coiffure. Long sleeves cover their arms and palms modelled to show elegant movement. This is a rare, matching set. The dancers are stylistically modelled to impart a sense of grace and style for the entertainment of the owner in the afterlife, with enough of the original vibrant red, white and black pigments remaining.

Statues like this are a rare find and reflect the golden age of court performances during Tang Dynasty. The performances were eclectic and on a grand-scale, sometimes with tens of thousands of performers. With its keen interest in other cultures, the Tang court received musicians and performing arts groups from many regions. Such a wide range of performers included: acrobats, ceremonial dancers, clowns, singers, musicians, martial arts masters…

Height: 13 Inches

Width: 7 Inches

Depth: 6 Inches

Condition: Excellent; adherent paint loss and chips to base and throughout commensurate of age and use..