Court Lady, Tang dynasty 618-907 ca. second quarter of the 8th century. Characteristic style "Fat Lady" figure traditionally recognized as Yang Guifei, the favorite concubine of the Tang Emperor, in the collectors and antiques trade community.
During the mid-seventh century of the Tang dynasty, the earlier preference for slender female body shapes was superseded in the mid-eighth century by a preference for a more full-bodied silhouette, traditionally called 'Fat Ladies' in the antiques trade.
This change in taste often is attributed to the plumpness of Yang Guifei (or Yang Yuhuan, 719-756), one of the four great beauties of the Tang dynasty, who was much loved by the Xuanzong emperor (r. 712-756) during the last years of his reign.
The period was considered one of the golden ages of Chinese history but also later troubled by corruption, border challenges, and a major rebellion in the mid-eighth century that weakened and eventually destroyed the dynasty by the invasion of the northern Khitan tribes that came to replace the Tang with the Liao dynasty (907 - 1125).
A
Back to Gotheborg.com Home Page