A RARE PAIR OF WOOD AND STUCCO GUARDIANS

YUAN/MING DYNASTY

Details

A RARE PAIR OF WOOD AND STUCCO GUARDIANS
Yuan/Ming Dynasty
Each well modeled standing in a defiant posture on a square base, the face with a concentrated combative grimace enhanced by glass eyes, wearing elaborate armor with glass eyes, with similar eyes also inlaid into the dragon-head helmet and monster mask epaulets, the celestial scarf billowing behind the head continuing to the base, painted in red, blue, green, flesh and black pigments with areas of gilding
36in. (91cm.) high (2)

Lot Essay

Compare the larger figure (176cm.) with similar features shown standing in the same position, wearing similar armor and animal mask helmet and with glass eyes inlaid not only in the guardian's face but also the helmet and epaulets, located in the Twin (Double) Forest Temple, Shanxi province, Pingyao county and illustrated in Zhongguo meishu quanji; diaosu; Yuan Ming Qing diaosu (The Great Treasury of Chinese Fine Arts; Sculpture; Yuan, Ming and Qing Sculpture) vol. 6, Beijing, 1988, vol. 6, no. 68.