Tang Dynasty Terracotta Head / Statue of a Chinese Official, China
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Museum Quality. This is detailed in buff pottery (with reesotericstuff.coms of a white slip or liquid clay). Most of the time figures such as this would have been painted over. But as the pigments faded away over the centuries, statues would be left with this white slip showing…. kind of an underpaint or undercoat. Figures such as this would be buried with the person represented in order to bring protection & prosperity in the after life. Professionally mounted on a custom Plexiglas stand. It is in excellent condition with a very slight chip from the nose. This piece was acquired in the Gansu Province, Northern China in 1995. I acquired it from a reputable dealer in Sydney Australia in 2000. For the Serious Collector.