Scott No: 1901-1903
Serial number: T89
Values in set: 3
Date of issue: March 24, 1984
Denomination: 88 fen
Designers: Shao Bolin
Size of stamps: 54*40mm
Perforation: 11
Sheet composition: 28(4*7)
Size of S/S: 176*66mm
Stamps of S/S: 162*40mm
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

T89 "Chinese Painting · Tang Dynasty · Ladies with Hairpins and Flowers" special stamps were issued on March 24, 1984. The set consists of 3 stamps plus 1 souvenir sheet, printed by photogravure, designed by Shao Bolin, with the original painting by Zhou Fang of the Tang dynasty, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory.

Theme of the Set

Ladies with Hairpins and Flowers is the only surviving original Tang dynasty fine-brush heavy-color painting of ladies, and it is a representative work of Tang dynasty lady painting. This set selects segments of the scroll painting, reproducing the leisurely garden life of noble ladies of the High Tang court, showcasing the superb painting skills of Tang dynasty figure painting, letting the public appreciate the elegant beauty of High Tang painting, and carrying forward the treasure of ancient painting and calligraphy art.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Ladies with Hairpins and Flowers, Section One

The image depicts a noble lady holding a fly whisk and teasing a small dog. The lady wears a high bun adorned with flowers and a light, gorgeous robe and skirt; she bends forward to tease the dog with a leisurely manner—a scene of idle wandering in the courtyard.

Ladies with Hairpins and Flowers, Section Two

The image shows a noble lady holding a flower and admiring it, with a maid holding a fan in attendance and a white crane standing nearby. The crane's posture is elegant, setting off the quiet and comfortable atmosphere of the courtyard.

Ladies with Hairpins and Flowers, Section Three

The image depicts a noble lady walking slowly and admiring flowers, with a maid standing at her side, lush flower clusters, and a small dog weaving among the flowers, fully displaying the leisurely mood of a spring courtyard.

Souvenir Sheet: Ladies with Hairpins and Flowers — The Complete Scroll

This completely reproduces the original long scroll, presenting the four scenes in a continuous manner, with six noble ladies, maids, auspicious animals, and flowers and trees arranged in sequence, restoring the complete narrative rhythm of the scroll.

Artistic Design Features

The set faithfully restores the warm brown ground of the ancient silk painting, preserving the original's fine, smooth, and flowing fine-brush lines and its rich, warm colors, with plump figures—the typical aesthetic of the High Tang. The three stamps excerpt sections of the long scroll, while the souvenir sheet presents the complete scroll; appreciating it in segments and viewing the whole scroll complement each other. The printing is delicate, and the antique charm is rich. It is a classic masterpiece among JT famous-painting stamps and was once voted the Best Stamp.