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Chinese Han Dynasty Standing Cowled Lady, Gray Pottery, 202 BC - 9 AD, China

$29,500
£22,554.32
€25,978.02
CA$41,338.54
A$46,150.60
CHF 24,182.22
MX$564,928.62
NOK 307,114.43
SEK 289,569.91
DKK 193,876.64

About the Item

A tall and dramatic Chinese high fired gray pottery model of a standing lady wearing a hood and a flared skirt, Western Han Dynasty (202 BCE - 9 CE), Shaanxi, China. This striking figure depicts a tall and slim woman dressed in warm winter clothing, including a cowl and a muff. Her close fitting gown accentuates her narrow figure before the skirt flares out dramatically, creating an elegant and evocative silhouette. The long sleeves of her heavy robe gathered in beautiful pleats, her hands clasped in front of her, hidden within a cozy muff. She wears a distinctive padded hood or cowl upon her head, keeping her warm and blocking out the wind. While most of her features are obscured by her heavy clothing, the woman's oval shaped face is clearly visible. She has a charming, matronly visage with a smiling countenance. Her face smooth and worry free. She holds her up high, looking out confidently and serenely through kind eyes. This figure would originally have adorned the tomb of a noble or royal woman, serving as a lady in waiting to attend to her in the afterlife. Most likely originally brightly pigmented, only traces of the white slip remain, giving her an ethereal and otherworldly presence. Hooded or cowled female Han Dynasty figures are rare. An example of one can be found in the Shaanxi History Museum, Xi'an, China. Another pair, with polychrome details and of shorter stature, were sold at Poly Auction, Hong Kong in 2020 as part of the Ten-views Lingbi Rock Retreat Collection, originally purchased from Eskenazi, London. TL (thermoluminescence) tested by Oxford Authentication. A printed copy of the certificate will accompany the figure. Provenance: Lester Wunderman (1920 - 2019)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 19.25 in (48.9 cm)Width: 14 in (35.56 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
  • Style:
    Han (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    202BC - 9 AD
  • Condition:
    Repaired: With repairs and restorations as expected. New repairs and restorations to the lower skirt. A possible repaired break at the waist. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor structural damages. Minor fading. In good condition for age. With repairs and restorations. Soil adhesions. Much of the white slip remaining. With drill holes from the TL test.
  • Seller Location:
    Austin, TX
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU894735257072

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