A DARK GRAY POTTERY FIGURE OF AN OX

NORTHERN WEI DYNASTY

Details

A DARK GRAY POTTERY FIGURE OF AN OX
Northern Wei Dynasty
Shown striding on a trapezoidal base, the head slightly raised and finely detailed with hair markings and fine creases around the large nostrils of the muzzle, the small eyes framed by a halter applied with bosses, the body hollow-molded and realistically modeled with a hump behind the ears and short, ribbed horns and a dewlap along the front of the broad chest
8in. (20.3cm.) long

Lot Essay

This figure is very similar to other published examples, both in private and public collections. See Sekai toji zenshu, Japan, 1982, vol. 10, p. 253, no. 275 for one in the Niigata Museum; Ulrich Wiesner, exhibition Catalogue, Chinesische Keramick, Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, Köln, 1988, p. 32, no. 8; John Ayers, Chinese Ceramics, the Koger Collection, London, 1985, p. 26, no. 7; Ezekiel Schloss, Ancient Chinese Ceramic Sculpture from Han to T'ang, vol. II, Stamford, Connecticut, 1977, pl. 39; Kaikodo, exhibition Catalogue, Spring 1997, pp. 122-123, no. 33; and a similar ox with cart sold in these rooms, May 30, 1991, lot 234

An ox of this type with more elaborate trappings was found with a cart in the tomb of Yuan Shao, a member of the Northern Wei royal family, who died in 520 and is illustrated in Kaogu, 1973:4, p. XII:3

The result of Oxford Authentication Ltd. thermoluminescence test no. C97e95 is consistent with the dating of this lot