Perhaps more than during any other period in Chinese history, the tomb furnishings of the Tang dynasty convey the good life enjoyed by a prosperous, cosmopolitan society. Vast quantities of ceramic sculptures of people, animals, birds, and fantastic creatures were made in all sizes and ranges of quality, some glazed, others painted in unfired pigments, sometimes with embellishments of gold, reflecting the status and wealth of the deceased. Tomb figures played a key role in public displays of wealth and status; at the funeral a procession of tomb figures preceded the coffin, then were placed along the entrance to the tomb to pay respect to the deceased as he or she was interred. Finally, the tomb figures were housed inside the tomb to serve the soul for all eternity.

This is a particularly elegant example of a Tang beauty, whose corpulent body type became the fashionable ideal in the eighth century. Her gesturing right hand is coyly concealed by her long sleeve, while in her left hand she holds a bird. The lady’s refinement and poise are further conveyed by the elaborate coiffure that frames her plump face, the graceful sway of her body and gentle tilt of her head. She wears a loose, gauzy dress and a low belt; the hem of her flowing garment reaches the floor, revealing only the pointed tips of her shoes. Now lost except for some faint remains, the pigments with which she was originally painted would have colorfully presented details such as the tie-dye or brocade patterns typical of Tang luxury silk garments.

Likewise, those painted details now gone might have made it possible to identify the bird more specifically. It was likely a parakeet or other exotic small bird reflecting an interest in bird collecting that was just one of the many fascinations Tang society enjoyed. Tang aristocratic gardens were stocked with exotic birds appreciated for their beauty and songs, and tropical birds from Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia are recorded as having been given as gifts to the Tang court.