Tomb Figurine of a Court Lady

The round-faced, hefty court lady portrayed in this tomb sculpture represents a standard of feminine beauty that was widely admired throughout east Asia in the first half of the eighth century. The historic model for this new canon of proportions is sometimes considered to be one of the favorite concubines of the Emperor Ming Huang (reigned 712-756), but there is little evidence to support this tradition. Whatever the reason, it is clear that plumpness was not only accepted at the court but was celebrated, especially in mortuary sculpture, during the height of the Tang Dynasty. The Johnson Museum figurine compares favorably with a large number of similar tomb sculptures found around the area of Xian, the site of the old Tang capital. The lady stands erect, hands folded under long sleeves, her face turned slightly, framed by a large hairdo that serves to call attention to the heaviness of her cheeks. Traces of pigment on the slip-coated body indicate that she was draped in richly colored garments. Her pose is remarkably graceful, and her facial features are rendered with delicacy and care. She seems alert, calm, and dignified: a grand court lady in every sense. (From “A Handbook of the Collection: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art,” 1998)