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Female Dancer
Northern Wei dynasty (386–534), 3rd quarter of the 5th century
Earthenware with pigments
H., approx. 8 in. (20. 3 cm)
Excavated at Datong, Shanxi Province, 2000
Datong City Institute of Archaeology
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This charming dancer was found in a side chamber of Tomb M52, one of five excavated from a cemetery on the grounds of Yanbei Teacher's College. Her round visage and form, long robe, and conical cap typify the appearance and clothing on tomb sculptures representing the Xianbei. The outstretched arms suggest that she has been captured in performance. A choker, composed of two layers of pearls or beads, encircles her neck. The impressive necklace that covers her upper chest consists of large ovoid beads inlaid with smaller circular ones. A similar adornment made of gold beads inlaid with pearls was excavated in 1957 from the tomb of a young princess named Li Jingxun. The sculpted version represents the only other known example of this type of jewelry, which was most likely produced somewhere in western or Central Asia.
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