Rare Chinese Inlaid Bronze Figure of a Female Attendant

A rare and highly unusual Chinese bronze figure of a standing female attendant, finely cast with a serene expression, elaborate high coiffure and long formal robes. The surface retains an exceptionally intricate decorative scheme composed of minute iridescent mother-of-pearl or shell inlays arranged in geometric and floral patterns, together with traces of lacquer, gilding and red-pigmented decoration. Her hands are held together before the body in a deliberate receiving or supporting position, indicating that she originally held a ceremonial, ritual, or symbolic attribute which is now missing.

The combination of bronze sculpture with such extensive and finely worked inlaid decoration is unusual, and an exact parallel for the present figure has not been identified. The casting, sculptural character and deeply aged, extensively deteriorated decorative surfaces suggest considerable age. The cataloguer considers a late Ming to early Qing attribution, possibly 17th century, plausible; the previous owner, a longtime dealer and collector of Asian art, regarded the figure as an early Chinese work. The dating remains an attribution and is presented conservatively pending further scholarly or scientific examination.