MILITARY (?) OFFICIAL ON A HIGH PEDESTAL

Description The standing dignitary wears a floor-length tunic and a loose jacket above the knee with the left flap crossed over the right and huge lapel sleeves that go down over the bottom hem of the jacket itself. The face has vaguely Western features, and is characterized by the “pheasant [patterned] headdress” (heguan) worn by military officials. The head and neck were cold painted: traces of black, red and orange pigments are visible above a slightly pinkish and unstable engobe. An accidental green window stain covers his left eye, a brown window stain has spilled over part of his headdress. The rest of the body is glazed in ochre, green and cream colors. This statue is thought to have been produced in the early 8th century in Shaanxi or more likely Henan, where the three-color glazing (sancai) technique was developed.