A Limestone Head of a Female Donor Tang Dynasty

the female head carved in the round with an oval-shaped face with delicate features, slender almond-shaped eyes, a straight nose and tight bud lips, framed by a jagged hairline with thick hair swept up into two top knots tied up with ribbons trailing down the sides of the head, the stone of grainy texture with a light grayish brown patina, metal stand

Collection of Hans-Jürgen von Lochow, posted in China between 1934 and 1950.

The overall condition is quite good with only a few shallow chips to the side of the lower face. There are old losses to the hair. There are some natural veins in the stone.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The exquisite, naturalistic carving of the facial features and earthly quality of this head of a female donor relate to examples from the Longmen cave temple complex near Luoyang in Henan province. For example, see a head illustrated in Chinese, Korean and Japanese Sculpture in the Avery Brundage Collection, Tokyo, 1974, pl. 110; another included in Longmen liusan diaoxiang ji [The lost statues of Longmen caves], Shanghai, 1993, pls. 72, 77 and 79. See also a smaller stone head from the Sakamoto Goro collection, sold in these rooms, 8th October 2013, lot 112, and an additional head sold in our New York rooms, 12th September 2012, lot 118, from the collection of Arthur Wiesenberger and on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, from the 1960s to 1973.