Tang Dynasty Court Lady Tomb Figure

Tang Dynasty, 618–907 AD, China

This absolutely fascinating tomb figure depicts a court lady, a stunning example of Tang dynasty artistry. Standing gracefully, she is dressed in an untailored, flowing gown with long sleeves that delicately conceal her clasped hands. Her elaborate coiffure, with hair styled in a cloud-like arrangement and piled toward the left, epitomizes the elegance and fashion of the Tang court. The figure’s plump, rounded face, combined with her poised and regal expression, reflects the aesthetic ideals of mid-8th century China.

Earlier Tang-era female figurines showcased tall and slender forms, but the period's shifting preferences for fuller, more voluptuous figures were influenced by Emperor Xuanzong’s infatuation with his famously beautiful and curvaceous concubine, Yang Guifei (Yang Yuhuan). This evolution in fashion and art highlights the cultural dynamism of the Tang dynasty, where personal tastes at court often shaped broader artistic trends.The Tang dynasty, a golden age of Chinese civilization, is renowned for its cosmopolitan culture, innovation, and artistic achievements. Earthenware figures like this one, known as mingqi (spirit goods), were placed in tombs to serve the deceased in the afterlife. The size, number, and quality of such figurines depended on the rank and wealth of the tomb’s occupant. Alongside other mingqi—musicians, attendants, and animals such as horses and camels—figures like this court lady served as vivid depictions of the vibrant life enjoyed during the Tang dynasty. This court lady figure is not only an exquisite work of art but also a tangible link to one of China’s most celebrated historical periods.

Excellent condition. Remains of polychrome (white, black, yellow and red). Intact. Age-related wear and abrasion. Small chip at the base. Heavy encrustation. Size approx. 20,8cm x 7,2cm x 5,2cm. 

Provenance: Finnish private collection.

For a similar examples see:

Tomb figure of a court lady, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Accession Number: 2012.013 (https://collection.qagoma.qld.gov.au/objects/16179)

Court lady, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 1979.108 (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/44808)

References and further reading:

The Matter of Tang Tomb Figures; A New Perspective on a Group of Terracotta Animals and Riders, Lucien Van Valen & Isabelle Garachon, The Rijksmuseum Bulletin, Volume 62. pp. 218-239, 2014.

Dream of Ideal Life in Ancient China: Ceramic Miniatures of Architectures, Household Goods, People and Animals, Aichi.ken Toji Shiryokan, Seto, 2005, no. 14, p. 34.

The Vibrant Role of Mingqi in Early Chinese Burials, Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, Heather Colburn Clydesdale, Independent Scholar, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, April 2009. (www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mgqi/hd_mgqi.htm)

Antecedents of Sui-Tang Burial Practices in Shaanxi, Mary Fong, Artibus Asiae 51, no:s. 3–4 (1991), pp. 147–98.

Immortality of the Spirit: Chinese Funerary Art from the Han and Tang Dynasties Exhibition Catalogue, Jill J. Deupi, Ive Covaci & Leopold Swergold, Immortality of the Spirit - Ephemera. 1, Fairfield University, 2012. (https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/immortality_ephemera/1)

Arts of the Tang Court, Patricia Eichenbaum Karetzky, Hong Kong; New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.

The Art of the Yellow Springs: Understanding Chinese Tombs, Wu Hung, London: Reaktion Books, 2011.