China - Court Maid With Bottle - Tang Dynasty

Court maid holding a bottle on a tray. 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 of the first Persian travelers in China. The hair is styled in two braids. Braided maids were women who served in the homes of nobles and the wealthy during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). This period is often considered a golden age of Chinese culture marked by advances in the arts, literature, and fashion. They were often recognized for their skill in styling hair using braids, which were popular hairstyles at the time. These hairstyles were not only a symbol of beauty, but also of social status. Maids played an important role in the daily lives of noble families, taking care of domestic chores and helping with preparations for social events. Period: Tang Dynasty (618-907) Dimensions: Height: 27 cm; Width: 8.5 cm. Provenance: Former UK collection, acquired in Hong Kong early 1990s. Condition: Very good overall condition with significant remains of polychromy.