Lot Essay
James Spencer in Buddhist Images in Gilt Metal, Chang Foundation, Taipei, 1993, p. 80, identifies the kalavinka as a particular species of bird from the Himalayan region with a beautiful singing voice. It is thought that its voice symbolizes the spread of Buddhist teaching. A related green and amber-glazed ‘kalavinka’ building ornament was excavated in 1987 at the Guantai kilns in Cizhou, and is illustrated in Complete Collection of Ceramics Art Unearthed in China – 3 – Hebei, Beijing, 2008, p. 178, no. 178.