Beautiful Court Lady
Known as ‘Fat Lady’ this terracotta figure dates from the most prosperous period of the Tang dynasty, 713 – 755 AD. The lady’s face is round and full with much detail, framed by head of thick black hair coiled elaborately on top of her head. She wears an open necked, high bodiced gown with long skirts falling in luxurious folds to the floor. Extensive green pigment of the gown remaining, with orange details and ornate brown peony flower decoration. Her arms are crooked at the elbow and held in front of her, her right hand concealed in the wide sleeves of her gown, her left exposed with thumb and middle finger held together.
Our knowledge of ladies fashion in the Tang dynasty is quite considerable, as we have seen representations in stone, and murals and paintings, the basic outfit for the Tang female was a bodice, a flowing skirt and a scarf or a stole. Over such outfits various types of jackets and coats were worn, including those with very long, wide sleeves which covered the hands of dancing girls performing the ‘long sleeve dance.’
This style did not originate in China and was probably introduced from Persia by way of Central Asia. Yang Guifei, the famous concubine of Xuanzong, was reputedly ‘Rubensian’ in figure and her plumpness was admired and copied. The high waisted skirt would hide the lack of waistline and a scarf would be draped to cover any parts of the body to which the uncorseted lady might not want to draw attention to.
This fashionable plumpness was complemented by a full moon face and double chins. As fifty-eight course banquets were not unknown at the Tang court. With courses such as ‘longevity gruel and fairy meat’ (slices of chicken in milk) such a vogue was probably inevitable. Yang Guifel was known for her love of fresh lychees which were transported by post horse from Lingnan in the south over the whole length of China especially for her. As the Tang dynasty poet Du Mu wrote;
‘Looking back at Chang’an, an embroidered pile appears,
A thousand gates among mountain peaks open each in turn.
A single horseman in the red dust-and the young Consort laughs.
But no one knows if it is the Lychees which come…‘
Stock Number: cm128/spr08
£8,500
Height: 18.5 in / 46.99 cm