Galerie Golconda

The hollow statuette is moulded in grey clay, then painted. The head was made separately. The hands are missing as they were probably made of wood. Very nice old polychrome decoration, probably some add in the design made in red colour. Visible repairs at the base.

With her distinguished-looking face, her loose garment and her stiff pose, this character epitomizes the aristocratic society of the 2 nd century BC, the most famous representation being the banner of the Marchioness of Dai. Like the latter, she must have worn a buyao, a sort of hairpin adorned with pearls. Two orifices on the side of the head indicate the position of the missing ornaments. The hair is parted and arranged in a hull-like coil above the temples and in a long twisted chignon tied with a bow at the back. A moving presence can be felt in the attentive gaze of this silent and circumspect companion who was always ready to serve the master.