Page 142 - Sotheby's Chinese Art and Porcelain Auction New York September 12, 2018

SOVEREIGN BEAUTY:

AN IMAGE OF AN ELITE
MAIDEN IN THE TANG

DYNASTY

This charming Þ gure o# ers an invaluable The present sculpture reß ects that newfound
glimpse into the cultural, social and political conÞ dence and aesthetic exchange. The Þ gure
strength of the Tang dynasty; in particular the is dressed in the fashionable Persian style
enjoyment of power, privilege and autonomy of of its time, in a high-waisted gown with tight
court women. Such Þ gures were commissioned sleeves, loose, ß owing skirt and décolleté
for royal and aristocratic tombs, with elite (a very non-Confucian feature). The seated
families vying to stage the most spectacular pose, depicted upright, alert and comfortable,
funerals. Objects made to accompany the conveys the poise of privileged women at the
departed, known as mingqi, were paraded time. Furthermore, the curled shoes that peep
through the great metropolitan centers of north beneath the hem also indicate the mobility of
China and prominently displayed on platforms Tang women, a marked contrast to the practice
before being placed in special niches within the of foot-binding from the Song dynasty until the
tombs themselves. fall of the Qing Empire.
The glory of the Tang dynasty is characterized Amongst the celebrated sancai Þ gures,
by its cosmopolitan openness to foreign trade sculptures of women constitute a rare and
and a rich ß ourishing of the arts. A mutual notable group. The present belongs to a distinct
exchange of religion, ideas and culture occurred group of models of young girls, identiÞ able
concurrently with the abundant trade along the by their broad youthful faces framed in a
Silk Road. Within this bustling environment, double-bun hairstyle and dressed in striped
elite women had access to high levels of skirts molded with ß oral designs. Of the group,
learning and the liberty to exercise political those that feature the highly-prized blue glaze
inß uence, as well as enjoying preferential are particularly rare as blue pigment could
access to freedom granted through religion. have been more expensive than gold as the
This liberal image of women is implied by Wu cobalt was imported from Central Asia. They
Zetian (624-705), China’s only female emperor possess a sense of individuality through their
(r. 690-705). Furthermore, as Tang society attractively painted features, often applied with
followed the traditions of Northern China, blushing pink cheeks, delicately drawn eyes and
which was closely related to the nomadic tribes red lips.
of Central Asia, women occupied powerful
positions within society as well as being active
in warfare and sports such as polo.

140 SOTHEBY’S IMPORTANT CHINESE ART