Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

The Barlow Collection

A select catalogue of the Barlow collection of Chinese Ceramics, Bronzes and Jades by the University of Sussex (published Sussex, 2006).

The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

Publications online: 456 objects

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Figure of a female attendant

  • loan
  • Literature notes

    Although generally following the style of a Han dynasty (206 BC–AD 220) example, the massive body of this figure is highly unusual and this representation of the garment, with the front differing from the back, is not known from that period.

    The lady is depicted standing, her lips pursed, her hair parted in the middle and tied in a (largely replaced) chignon at the back, with a horizontal metal strip above the forehead remaining from attached hair ornaments. The head is original, but has been matched with a modern replacement body, dressed in a long gown with overlong sleeves, with two holes for separately made hands. At the back the garment is cut in the shape of a jacket and pleated skirt, both widening towards the hem. The grey pottery body shows white and black pigments for the head and red pigments for the gown. The figure is hollow.
  • Details

    Associated place
    Asia China (north) (place of creation)
    Date
    Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 9)
    Material and technique
    earthenware, moulded and luted together, with traces of white, black, and red pigment; body, pierced
    Dimensions
    59 x 21.3 x 16 cm (height x width x depth)
    Material index
    Technique index
    Object type index
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Lent by the Sir Alan Barlow Collection Trust.
    Accession no.
    LI1301.428
  • Further reading

    University of Sussex, and Arts and Humanities Research Council, The Barlow Collection, supervised by Regina Krahl, Maurice Howard, and Aiden Leeves (Sussex: University of Sussex, 2006), no. S33

Glossary (2)

earthenware, luted

  • earthenware

    Ceramic material made of clay which is fired to a temperature of c.1000-1200⁰c. The resulting ceramic is non-vitreous and varies in colour from dark red to yellow.

  • luted

    The fusion of parts of ceramics using dilute clay slip.

Location

    • currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

Publications online

  • The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

    The Barlow Collection

    Although generally following the style of a Han dynasty (206 BC–AD 220) example, the massive body of this figure is highly unusual and this representation of the garment, with the front differing from the back, is not known from that period.

    The lady is depicted standing, her lips pursed, her hair parted in the middle and tied in a (largely replaced) chignon at the back, with a horizontal metal strip above the forehead remaining from attached hair ornaments. The head is original, but has been matched with a modern replacement body, dressed in a long gown with overlong sleeves, with two holes for separately made hands. At the back the garment is cut in the shape of a jacket and pleated skirt, both widening towards the hem. The grey pottery body shows white and black pigments for the head and red pigments for the gown. The figure is hollow.
Notice

Object information may not accurately reflect the actual contents of the original publication, since our online objects contain current information held in our collections database. Click on 'buy this publication' to purchase printed versions of our online publications, where available, or contact the Jameel Study Centre to arrange access to books on our collections that are now out of print.

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