East Asia, China, Tang Dynasty, ca. AD 618-907. A beautiful pottery tomb maid is draped in an elegant floor-length robe, hand-glazed in a glossy mulberry color tone of emerald, celadon and olive. Hidden by long sleeves, she clasps her hands together and rests on her slightly protruding belly. Her round face peeking out slender eyes beneath bushy eyebrows, a bulbous nose and fleshy lips, all crowned by a black curl arranged in a rather large crested bun. Size: 3.6 "W x 12.2" H (9.1cm x 31cm)

The Tang Dynasty was China's golden age, when its control of the oases along the Silk Road allowed for the export of Chinese goods and the import of people and ideas from India, Persia and beyond. With two million inhabitants, the capital Chang 'an (now Xi 'an) was one of the largest cities in the world at the time, with a large cadre of state-backed literati and artisans living there. This class of artisans had the privilege of making these beautiful figures. After using molds to form them into basic shapes, the artist will use scrapers and hand modeling to give them personality. East Asia, China, Tang Dynasty, ca. 618 to 907 CE. A beautiful pottery female tomb attendant draped in an elegant floor-length robe hand-glazed in lustrous Sancai hues of emerald, celadon, and olive. Hidden by her long sleeves, she holds both arms before her with her hands resting together at her slightly protruding abdomen. Her round visage displays slender eyes beneath thick brows, a bulbous nose, and fleshy lips, all crowned by a black coiffure arranged in a sizeable, crested top bun. Size: 3.6" W x 12.2" H (9.1 cm x 31 cm)

The Tang Dynasty was a golden age in China, when its control of oases along the Silk Road allowed both the export of Chinese goods and the import of people and ideas from places like India, Persia, and even further afield. The capital city, Changan (modern day Xian) had 2 million inhabitants, making it one of the largest cities in the world at the time, and there was a large class of literati and artisans supported by the government who lived there. This artisan class had the luxury to produce these beautiful figures. After a mold was used to form them into basic shapes, artists would then use scrapers and hand-modelling to give them their individuality.