Oud-Chinees Terracotta Dikke vrouw - 37 cm

Fat Lady, polychrome terracotta. Tang Dynasty (618-906 AD).

The Tang Era of Chinese history is heralded as a golden age. It witnessed the prosperity of culture, economy, diplomacy and politics under a unified government.

The emergence of the ‘Court Fat Lady’ as a popular image of Chinese identity first made its appearance under the Zhou Dynasty, which briefly interrupted the Tang Dynasty. Women were romanticized and heroized. Previously, the taste for women, especially concubines, had steered towards slim and slight woman. The new Tang Dynasty fashion preferred the more buxom figure. Plump women of the high court were enjoying their heyday. They were represented in art and poetry and became popular in the royal household.

The most famous Court lady, Yang Guifei, the consort of Emperor Xuanzong (r. 712-756) set the fashion for ladies. For the first time, long, loose fitting robes with high necklines became court fashion accompanied by elaborate hairstyles. These figure carries a double bun, and her hands are together over her chest.

Provenance: Purchased by the current owner to an English art gallery. Ex private collection (Bath; 1990s).

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