A PAINTED GRAY POTTERY FIGURE OF A MYTHICAL BEAST

Details

A PAINTED GRAY POTTERY FIGURE OF A MYTHICAL BEAST
HAN/JIN DYNASTY, 4TH CENTURY B.C.

The stocky beast shown in mid-stride, its bovine head lowered, modeled with a series of knife-cut spikes issuing from the neck and flattened bosses along the spine above wings rising from the front haunches, the long tail with curls near its base and the tip coiled, extensive traces of white pigment showing the remains of stripes and scrolls--13in. (33cm.) long

Lot Essay

Although examples of these mythical beasts are known, it is unusual to find one with wings. Compare the similar figure without wings illustrated in Kandai no Bijitsu, 'The Art of the Han', Osaka Municipal Museum of Fine Art, 1976, no. 1-118