Seated Girl Holding Mirror
Tang dynasty (618–907), first half of 8th century
Medium
Earthenware with three-color (sancai) lead glazes and traces of pigments
Dimensions
28.5 × 11 cm (11 1/4 × 4 5/16 in.)
Classification
earthenware
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
37729
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This young girl with braided pigtails gazing into a hand-mirror reflects life in a sophis-ticated and fashion-conscious Tang court. She may be applying cosmetics, which included mineral pigments that were im-ported from Persia (now Iran) and Central Asia. She sits upon round, waisted stools that were a new furniture style for the time.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...