Tang Dynasty, 618-907 A.D. A group of four gilt musician figures depicting court ladies comprising: two seated figures dressed in voluminous robes, wearing the traditional court attire and playing the pipes; a similarly seated figure playing a drum, with detailing to her necklace, arm rings and hair; a figure seated wearing a floor-length robe, voluminous sleeves, head tilted whimsically to one side, playing a guzheng; the facial features delicately modelled in a serene expression and the hair adorned with a headdress, each musician wearing a different facial expression; each accompanied by a custom-made display base. Cf. Prodan, M., The Art of The T'ang Potter, Thames and Hudson, 1960, for comparable examples (pl.VII p.16) and discussion; Wong, G., The Silk Road: Treasures of the Tang China, Singapore, 1991, pp.78-80, for comparable musician figures in a different medium; Congyun, L., Yang, Y., Gushan, Z., Imperial Tombs of China, Orlando, 1995, p.117, for representation of musicians on a Tang cup from Hejia; Michaelson, C., Gilded Dragons, Buried treasures from China’s Golden Ages, London, 1999, fig.39, p.71, 88, p.124, 90, p.126, 113, p.156; cf. images of Tang censer with representations of female musicians in Rastelli, S., Scarpari, M., Il Celeste Impero, dall'esercito di Terracotta alla Via della Seta, Milano, 2008, fig.83, p.182. 350 grams total, 60-75 mm high (730 grams total, 85-95 mm including stand) (2 3/8 - 3 in. (3 3/8 - 3 3/4 in). Late Sir Roger Moss OBE collection. Property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, lady. Accompanied by an academic expertise by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate no.11188-185450. [4] Fine condition.
