Figure
650-800 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This earthenware tomb figure represents a dark-skinned boy with curly hair, maybe a dancer. It is possibly one of the 'Kunlun boys' cited in historical records of the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907), an ill-defined group from south-east Asia, but not of Chinese origin. Figures of this type were buried in graves to accompany the deceased in the afterlife.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Earthenware, with white slip, unfired painting and gilding |
| Brief description | Tomb figure, painted and gilded earthenware, China, Tang dynasty, 650-800 AD |
| Physical description | Buff earthenware figure of a dancing boy, half-draped, with curly hair and wearing bracelet, anklets and necklace. The surface is coloured with unfired painting and gilding on a white slip. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Gallery label | Dancing boy
Tang dynasty
680-750
This dark-skinned boy with curly hair represents someone from Western Asia.
Painted earthenware with gilding
Museum no. C.827-1936(2007) |
| Credit line | Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee |
| Object history | A similar figure was unearthed in Xianyang, a little more than 20km north of Xi'an, in present-day Shaanxi province. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | This earthenware tomb figure represents a dark-skinned boy with curly hair, maybe a dancer. It is possibly one of the 'Kunlun boys' cited in historical records of the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907), an ill-defined group from south-east Asia, but not of Chinese origin. Figures of this type were buried in graves to accompany the deceased in the afterlife. |
| Bibliographic reference | John Ayers, The far Eastern Ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London: Sotheby Parke Bernet, 1980, cat. 11 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.827-1936 |
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| Record created | February 2, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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