The pair of tall courtesans are here portrayed standing with hands crossed on the front, the abundant white long vest covering the pink gown underneath, the shoulders with an ochre blouse topped by a pink shawl surrounding the upper arms. The up-turned curved shoes just visible underneath. The vest still retains the original floral patterns that would have once embellish the entire figure. Both ladies wear their hair swept up in a large chignon that would have in real life been kept in shape by hidden superstructures in a style common during the high Tang period in the 8th century CE. Their moon-shaped faces are blushed, with large full cheeks, small vermilion lips and a decorative roundel placed on the front. This Tang beauty ideal was indeed eulogised by the famous contemporary poet Fang Gan (d. 888 C.E) who immortalised it in verses by writing:
“ the highs and lows of those vermilion lips imitate cherries, half covered breasts are snow on a sunny day”.

Antiquities
Ancient Asian