A BLUE-SPLASHED 'SANCAI' POTTERY FIGURE OF AN OFFICIAL TANG DYNASTY

the figure standing on a rockwork pedestal with hands clasped to his chest, dressed in a long amber jacket with a blue-splashed frontal and sleeves over a cream-colored skirt

Acquired on the Hong Kong art market, early 1980s.
Offered at Sotheby's New York, 17th September 2003, lot 44.

The figure was inspected under UV light and revealed no fluorescence. There is a rectangular aperture at the tops of the hands, probably to hold a tablet. There is a Y-shaped firing flaw on the back, approximately 1/2 inch long. A fine crack on the back right shoulder reveals a restored section extending approximately 1 1/2 inch to the front shoulder. The left shoulder with a 2 inch in-painted crack. Small areas of repainting/retouching to the area above his hands and the edge of his right sleeve near the hand. The neck was likely broken and restored. Some of the black pigment on the face are possibly re-touched. Updated 4 March 2009
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present basin is a rare example of Tang vessels decorated with the striking blue glaze together with the more commonly found glazes of amber and cream of the sancai palette. The generous amount of blue used for the decoration of this basin, as seen around the central floret medallion and the border that is predominantly splashed in blue, suggests that the piece was made for a wealthy client. Cobalt during the Tang dynasty was an expensive material that had to be imported via the Silk Route into China.  This vessel is also unusual for its generous size and deep form making it a rare example of its kind.

This basin is closely comparable with a vessel of the same form and size, and with almost identical blue splashed decoration on the interior and similar floral design in the center, unearthed from Sanyuan county in 1974 and presently kept in the Sanyuan County Museum, Shanxi province, illustrated in National Treasure Collection of Rare Cultural Relics of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an, 1998, pl. 10.