CHINESE DANCER FIGURINE PAIR Tang Dynasty, 618-906 AD A pair of ceramic dancer figurines wearing long flowing robes tied at the waist with a wide sash, long sleeves covering the hand and wearing shoes in the shape of birds; the hair arranged in two large buns on the top of the head; robes painted in red and blue. 1 kg in total, 23cm (9"). Very finely modelled. Provenance From an important London collection, acquired in the 1970s. Footnotes Dancers were popular subjects for the numerous pottery figures buried in tombs. The Tang capital at Chang'an was cosmopolitan in character, with merchants from most parts of Asia trading there. Dancers and musicians were brought to the capital from central and southern Asia, there was probably competition among the elite as to who had the more exotic musicians and dancers at any one time performing in their households. These ladies may not, however, represent foreigners, as their hair is dressed in Chinese fashion in the mode of the early eighth century. The dress with elongated sleeves and hem sweeping the floor would have been an important element in the rhythm of the dance.
CHINESE DANCER FIGURINE PAIR Tang Dynasty, 618-906 AD A pair of ceramic dancer figurines wearing long flowing robes tied at the waist with a wide sash, long sleeves covering the hand and wearing shoes in the shape of birds; the hair arranged in two large buns on the top of the head; robes painted in red and blue. 1 kg in total, 23cm (9"). Very finely modelled. Provenance From an important London collection, acquired in the 1970s. Footnotes Dancers were popular subjects for the numerous pottery figures buried in tombs. The Tang capital at Chang'an was cosmopolitan in character, with merchants from most parts of Asia trading there. Dancers and musicians were brought to the capital from central and southern Asia, there was probably competition among the elite as to who had the more exotic musicians and dancers at any one time performing in their households. These ladies may not, however, represent foreigners, as their hair is dressed in Chinese fashion in the mode of the early eighth century. The dress with elongated sleeves and hem sweeping the floor would have been an important element in the rhythm of the dance.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
