Sancai-glazed pottery "lawyer", Tang dynasty (618 - 906)

A figure modelled in kaolin ware and decorated in amber, green and cream-coloured 'sancai' glaze (三彩).

The figure stands on a pedestal with his hands clasped on his chest. His expression is calm, and his features are well-marked. It depicts a civilian lawyer, civil servant or official dressed in an elegant, multi-layered robe. The cloth is crossed at the front, with the sleeves folded down to knee-length. The length reaches down to the feet, revealing only the tips of the shoes. The high headdress with a cap was customary at court. The front of the headdress is embossed with a bird, possibly indicating the position he held in his social hierarchy, according to sources from the period. 

The glaze starts at the neck, right on the garment, in green and has three shades of green on the edge of the sleeve. The colours are bright and flow in a random but harmonious manner almost to the base of the pedestal. The face is unglazed and retains elements drawn in engobe that emphasize its features. The polychromy extends to the headdress, although it is worn by the passage of time. 

Height: 71 cm

Its state of preservation is exceptional, considering its age.

Documentation:

It is accompanied by a report and "Thermoluminescence Test" carried out by the TL Laboratory of the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). Report no.: 10079U, year 2007. The result confirms, from the extraction of material from the piece, compatibility with ceramic materials fired in the Tang dynasty period and age close to the 8th - 11th centuries AD.

Provenance:

Spanish private collection. 

This important private collection comes from a successful businessman dedicated to national and international construction and investment who resided in different parts of Spain and the South of France. This part of the collection, exhibited exclusively for the first time at auction, focuses on Chinese ceramics from the Tang dynasty and is a collection of museum quality pieces. The family's tradition of travel dates back to the success of an ancestor who in the 1930s travelled to Manila, Shanghai, Cairo, Havana, etc., practising the sport of "cesta punta", and in particular, motivated by an interest in discovering different cultures, which led them to build up a large collection. In general, their interest in art is such that their collection includes pieces of both Asian and European origin.

The acquisition of the collection began in the 1990s and was built up during years of study in Madrid and on various trips to Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Spain and Germany; at reputable antique dealers such as "Arch Angel" in Hong Kong and international auctions such as Nagel. To this end, specialists have also collaborated in the selection, study and verification of the pieces, as can be seen in the accompanying documentation: invoices, studies and reports.

Additional information:

The function of the figures was to protect the tombs and accompany the deceased, and they were endowed with visual qualities for this purpose. The first such figures were seen in the tombs of Li Feng, Prince of Guo (622-675). Large 'sancai' figures of better quality were included in the tombs of royalty and nobility, both in the Chang'an capital of the time and in the city of Luoyang. During the Tang dynasty, Henan province was one of the richest places in the empire.

They are decorated with brightly coloured glazes that can be seen on many pieces from the Tang period, from the 7th century onwards. The type of glaze was called "Sancai" (三彩) because of the use of three low-temperature firing colours. They are coloured by metallic oxides of copper, iron and manganese. They are an evolution of the tradition of Han and Wei single-coloured wares. The material used to make these ceramics is kaolin with fine white texture and glossy glazes, representing the peak of the development of coloured glazed ceramics in China. The result is a magnificent and dazzling artistic effect. An example would be the Luoyang Museum's set of figures "洛陽博物館" and the Shaanxi History Museum's "陕西历史博物馆".

The literate or civil officials were accompanied by other figures such as celestial guardians, earth spirits, guardians, mounted figures and animal figures reflecting the culture and traditions. Each figure occupied a specific place in the tomb. The literati were in the side chambers and the guardians at the entrance. An example of a funerary ensemble can be found in the British Museum under the number "1936,1012.221".