Exceptionally Well-Preserved, Large Medieval Tang Dynasty(?) Painted Ceramic Statuette of a Woman. CLASSIFICATION: Painted Ceramic Statuette. ATTRIBUTION: Ancient China, in the Style of Tang Dynasty, 8th or 9th Century A.D. Possibly an 18th or 19th Century Imitative Revival. SIZE/MEASUREMENTS: Height: 277 millimeters (11.12 inches); Breadth: 100 millimeters (4 inches). Thickness: 82 millimeters (3.25 inches) at top lip. CONDITION: Very good, no repairs but some of the paint was worn away. A little wear and a few blemishes consistent with any item which is at least several centuries old. Not flawless, but certainly in a better than average state of preservation – and unrepaired! Stands on its own. DETAIL: A nicely preserved painted ceramic statuette so wonderfully characteristic of Tang Dynasty statuary. Although it is quite possible that this specimen could be much older than we credit, it is possible that this is a revivalist imitative produced for the European market of the 18th or 19th century. The style and indications of age strongly suggest that it is indeed eighth or ninth century Tang. However it is widely known that Chinese porcelain was quite popular in Victorian Europe. Carrying Chinese porcelain from China to Europe was an industry for the seafaring mariners of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Entire fleets of sailing ships plied the trade, especially the Dutch and English. Ancient Chinese ancient ceramics were also extremely popular in Victorian Europe. Chinese ceramic artwork was highly appreciated and in great demand. Although the style of this specimen is very convincing and suggests it might indeed be of Tang Dynasty origin, most of the Chinese ceramics in Europe date to the 17th, 18th or 19th century – so it is quite possible that this is an imitative revival piece. Judging by the style and wear it could indeed be considerably older, but only a $600 thermoluminescence test would establish this conclusively. So we’ll simply err on the side of being conservative and label it as a revival piece, and if it is indeed older, so much the better for the buyer. However whether an antique several centuries old, or an antiquity a few centuries older, this is a valuable and collectible piece of art. Though obviously some of the paint has decomposed over the centuries, most of the paint remains intact. And all of the eloquent features remain quite distinct, the facial expression and gesture so lifelike – quite remarkable for statuary this old.

A little wear and a few blemishes consistent with any item which is at least several centuries old. Not flawless, but certainly in a better than average state of preservation – and unrepaired! Stands on its own.