China, 17^th century. Well modeled standing with hands together and obscured by the long sleeves, wearing a buttoned and collared upper garment and a long flowing robe cascading in voluminous folds. A large piece of coral resting against his arm, the face with curly hair, eyebrows, and beard, below the characteristic conical hat centered by a rosette.

Provenance: Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes, Paris, inventory number 15433, acquired at Hôtel Drouot in 1950. The Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes (China and India Company) in Paris was founded in the early 20^th century by the Blazy brothers, acquired in 1935 by Robert Rousset and later run by his grandnephews Mike Winter-Rousset and Hervé du Peuty. With his sister Suzanne in charge of the porcelain, Robert Rousset developed the business, and the company became one of the most important dealers for Asian art in France, selling pieces to the greatest museums, including the Guimet and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Condition: Superb condition with only minor old wear, some traces of use and firing flaws. Exceedingly rare to find in this completely original condition with no restoration or repair whatsoever.

Weight: 4,310 g
Dimensions: Height 49 cm (incl. base) and 43 cm (excl. base)

Mounted to a Chinese fitted hardwood base dating to the late Qing dynasty and made for the export market. (2)

Throughout Chinese history, tributary states and tribes were required to periodically send their ambassadors to the Imperial court and pay tribute with valuable gifts. Drawings and paintings with short descriptions were used to record the expression of these ambassadors and to a lesser extent to show the cultural aspects of these ethnic groups. These historical descriptions besides the portraits became the equivalent of documents of diplomatic relations with each country. The Portraits of Periodical Offering of Liang was painted by the future Emperor Yuan of Liang, Xiao Yi (ruled 552-555 AD) of the Liang dynasty while he was a Governor of the Province of Jingzhou as a young man between 526-539 AD, a post he held again between 547-552 AD, and had the opportunity to meet many foreigners. One of his paintings depicts a Persian ambassador and likely served as the inspiration for this figural sancai roof tile.

明末罕見三彩波斯人俑
中國，十七世紀。人俑雙手併攏站立，被長袖遮住，穿著波斯衣服，褶皺層疊。 一大塊珊瑚靠在他的手臂上，面部表情柔和，捲曲的頭髮、眉毛和鬍鬚，戴著圓錐形高帽。

來源：巴黎Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes公司，庫存編號15433，1950 年購於Hôtel Drouot拍賣行。 位於巴黎的 Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes公司於 20 世紀初由 Blazy 兄弟創立，1935 年由 Robert Rousset 收購，後來由他的外甥 Mike Winter-Rousset 和 Hervé du Peuty 經營。 Robert Rousset 與他的妹妹 Suzanne 負責瓷器，並大力發展這項業務，該公司成為法國最重要的亞洲藝術品經銷商之一，向最大的博物館出售藝術品，包括吉美博物館和大都會藝術博物館。
品相：狀況極佳，只有輕微的舊時磨損、一些使用痕跡和燒製缺陷。 在這種完全原始的情況下，沒有任何修復或修補，非常罕見。

重量：4,310 克
尺寸：高49 厘米 (含底座)，43 厘米 (不含底座)

晚清硬木底座，為外銷所製。 (2)