This pair of straw-glazed pottery figures represents a male and female court attendant, both elegantly attired in period fashion. The female figure wears a flowing robe with draped folds and a high-stylized coiffure, while the male figure dons a long robe and a tall, pointed headdress, suggesting official status. Their serene expressions and poised stances reflect the refined aesthetics of the Sui-Tang period. The straw glaze gives a warm, translucent yellowish tone, with the male figure exhibiting a fine craquelure pattern due to age. Despite minor surface wear, cracks, both figures remain well-preserved, exemplifying the craftsmanship of tomb figurines from this era.
Date : Sui-Tang Dynasty
Type : Straw-glazed pottery figure
Dimension : Female - 27cm (Height) x 9cm (Diameter) / male - 27cm (Height) x 7cm (Diameter)
Condition : Good
Provenance : Acquired in late 1990s from Hongkong
Reference :
1) ROM - Object number: 923.24.101 - Burial figure of a female attendant
(Type : Closely related)
https://collections.rom.on.ca/objects/337217/burial-figure-of-a-female-attendant?ctx=efae019d-488b-4b82-b4c3-c7baf6bc95fa&idx=113
2) Christies Paris 28 NOV – 13 DEC 2024 - A STRAW-GLAZED POTTERY FIGURE OF A COURT LADY - Lot 687
(Price realised : EUR 1,638 / Type : Closely related)
https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/art-asia/straw-glazed-pottery-figure-court-lady-687/244158
* Sui-Tang Dynasty Straw-glazed Earthenware (581–907 CE)
Straw-glazed earthenware from the Sui and Tang dynasties (581–907 CE) is characterized by a pale yellow, off-white, or greenish glaze fired at a low temperature. This type of glaze, known as straw glaze, contains minimal iron content, resulting in a soft, natural hue with a subtle sheen rather than a glossy surface. It was commonly used for mingqi (明器)—funerary objects placed in tombs—as well as for practical vessels.
During this period, the influence of foreign cultures through the Silk Road is evident in the design of straw-glazed ceramics, particularly in figurines representing warriors, attendants, and animals. These pieces reflect the cosmopolitan nature of the Tang Dynasty, incorporating elements of Central Asian and nomadic attire. As tomb objects, they symbolized the deceased’s status and authority in the afterlife.
While technically simpler than Tang Sancai (唐三彩, three-colored ware), straw-glazed ceramics exhibit elegant curves and refined craftsmanship, making them an important representation of the artistic sophistication of the era.
