Chinese Tang Court Lady Figure

With reserved black-glass ornament including clouds, sheathed swords, quivers and other motifs; serpent motif to the spherical stopper handle. 1.29 kg, 19 cm



UK collection, 1990s. Acquired on the UK art market, before 2000. Private collection, Mr M.V., a London-based businessman.

One fusiform with painted scene of courtly ladies kneeling, artistic images on display, reserved gilt chop-seal to underside; one conical with outdoor scenes of richly dressed ladies and gentlemen beside a lake. 123 grams total, 92 mm each



From a private Tyneside collection, formed since the early 2000s.

Each hollow-formed, standing on an integral polygonal base and dressed in a loose-fitting floor-length robe with V-shaped opening at the neck, chignon, dressed hair, painted facial detailing; cloud-slippers protruding at the base; painted pigmentation remaining, including some decorative patterns on the clothes. 7.65 kg total, 49.5 cm high



From a West Country, UK, collection, formed in the 1990s. Accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report no.C124a5 from Oxford Authentication for one of the figures. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.13234-250854.

The dresses of these Ladies are just one example of the elaborate fashions in clothing and hairstyles that could appear at the Court. The basic pattern of short jacket with long sleeves or bodice and, long, wide skirt could be varied a thousandfold in cut, colour and accessories.