A FINE PAIR OF PAINTED POTTERY LOKAPALA GUARDIANS, each boldly and dramatically modelled standing on the belly and head of a recumbent demon all on a pierced rocky base, one with an arm upraised and facing to the right, the other with clenched fist and facing forward, both wearing an elaborate swan-like head-piece and full armour with dragon shoulder-masks and elaborate winged collars, traces of red, gold and black pigment remaining (some restoration),

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A FINE PAIR OF PAINTED POTTERY LOKAPALA GUARDIANS, each boldly and dramatically modelled standing on the belly and head of a recumbent demon all on a pierced rocky base, one with an arm upraised and facing to the right, the other with clenched fist and facing forward, both wearing an elaborate swan-like head-piece and full armour with dragon shoulder-masks and elaborate winged collars, traces of red, gold and black pigment remaining (some restoration),

Tang Dynasty
71cm. high (2)

Lot Essay

Cf. the very similar example at the Tokyo National Museum, illustrated in Sekai Toji Zenshu, Shogakukan Series, vol.11, fig.40 which is 62.5cm. high; the glazed examples illustrated, vol.11, pl.188; and the wood example of this subject from Turfan, illustrated by E. Schloss, Ancient Chinese Ceramic Sculpture from Han through T'ang, p.7, fig.7. Also, a similar but slightly smaller single figure was sold in these Rooms, 14 June 1985, lot 263, illustrated on the front cover

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