China - Court Servant Present - Tang Dynasty - Tl

Court maid holding and extending a present in her hands, probably to her mistress. She is dressed in a long dress topped with a vest and a long shawl worn over her shoulders and falling down her body. This fashion began around the beginning of the Tang period with the arrival in China of the first Persian travelers. The hair is gathered in a bun on top of the head. The bun, or "jijin", is an emblematic hairstyle of the Tang dynasty (618-907). During this period, hair fashion was particularly rich and varied, reflecting the cultural diversity and external influences of the time. Women of the Tang dynasty often wore elaborate buns, decorated with flowers, jewels, and silk bands. These hairstyles were not only a way to highlight their beauty, but they were also a symbol of social status. Buns could vary depending on age, social class, and occasion. Maids, on the other hand, tended to adopt simpler and more practical styles. Their chignons were often less ornate, allowing for greater mobility and easier maintenance. The chignon of maids could include more functional elements, adapted to their daily tasks, while still adhering to certain standards of presentation. These hairstyles were typically worn high, sometimes with plaits or braids, and could be held in place with pins. The art of hairdressing during the Tang dynasty, from the refined styles of the nobles to the more modest hairstyles of the maids, demonstrates the richness and diversity of the customs of the period. A thermoluminescence test accompanies the object certifying its dating. Period: Tang dynasty (618-907) Dimensions: Height: 30 cm; width: 8.5 cm. Provenance: Former UK collection, acquired in Hong Kong in the early 1990s. Condition: Very good condition overall with significant remnants of polychromy.