Tang Dynasty Figure of a Seated Court Lady in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, August 2023

Title: Seated court lady

Period: Tang dynasty (618–907)

Date: 8th century

Culture: China

Medium: Earthenware with tri-color (sancai) glaze

Dimensions: H. 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm); W. 5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm); D. 6 1/16 in. (15.4 cm)

Classification: Ceramics

Credit Line: Purchase, The Vincent Astor Foundation Gift, 2010

Accession Number: 2010.120

This charming figure brings to life a leisure moment at the Tang imperial court. A plump young woman sits in a relaxed pose, a playful lapdog at her feet. Bright, clear-toned glazes, a recent innovation in ceramic technology at the time, enhance her jacket, sash, and skirts with striking colors. The hourglass-shaped stool, originally made of rattan in South Asia, points to the overseas trade and exchange during this prosperous and cosmopolitan age.

Text from: www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/75765