A Rare Chinese Sancai-Glazed Pottery Figure of a Court LadyTang DynastyThis graceful standing sancai figure holding a green-glazed flute with its holes visible in her two fully exposed straw-glazed hands, the top of a green-glazed shawl exposed around her neck and down her shoulders where it meets a green-glazed belt that is hidden by her layered brown-glazed robe but reappears over her robe on her back, her body fully wrapped in her brown-glazed robe with its long sleeves exposed, the robe down to her upturned green-glazed shoes peeking out from below her hem, her full-cheeked face modeled and detailed with delicate features and her hair dressed in a full helmet double stiff coiffure with some elements of pigment remaining. Height 13 1/2 inches. Note:Most court ladies are not modeled with their hands exposed, but rather they are hidden in front of them by the flowing sleeves of their robes. See Christies New York 19 September 2013, lot 1256 (Realized price USD 135,750), no hands showing; Christies New York 18 September 2014, lot 717 (Realized price USD 85,000), only one hand visible; Christies New York 20 March 2002, Lot 100 (Realized price USD 76, 375), only one hand visible. Further, this figure has her musical instrument, an undamaged flute with detail, held to her chest with both of her fully formed hands. It is an unusual, rare detail. In addition, the Court lady offered is significantly similar to another important Tang sancai Court lady. See Christies New York 20 September 2004, lot 186 (Realized price USD 130,700).C Property from the Collection of Steven J. Harvis