A RARE CARVED BONE FIGURE OF A TIGER

Details

A RARE CARVED BONE FIGURE OF A TIGER
LATE SHANG DYNASTY

The hollow or partially hollow figure well carved in the round as a tiger standing with head facing forward and tail curled to form a loop, the areas of the head well delineated by bands with raised edges, with bands of hooked scrolls on the back, chevrons on the sides and scale-like markings on the belly, with a warm ochre patina, a small patch of cuprite encrustation on one side, chip to tail
4 3/8in. (11.1cm.) long, fitted box

Lot Essay

Another free-standing figure of a tiger carved from bone, but not as elaborate as the present example, is illustrated by Maxwell Hearn, Ancient Chinese Art: The Ernest Erickson Collection, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1987, no. 116