Han Dynasty Court Attendant

A stunning terracotta statuette of a Han lady court attendant.

The statuette shows traces of the original red, black, and white pigmentation. The figure is standing with arms at her sides, wearing a long skirt and a full-length robe. This robe has long swagged sleeves and a lapel, which is pulled across from the left and fastened on the right. Poking out at the collar is a roll of fabric from the undergarments. The long skirt, which is tight around the legs before cascading dramatically outwards, is characteristic of early Han figural art. The facial features, such as eyes, lips, nose, and eyebrows, are picked out by delicate painting: the white colour of the face reflects the traditional makeup of the time. The hair is pulled back from the face. The figure’s body, head, and hands (which in this case are lost) were all made separately to give her an essence of movement and dynamism.