NORTHERN WEI DYNASTY (386-535)

Details

A Horizontal Carved Limestone Lintel
Northern Wei Dynasty (386-535)
Resting on three vertical pillars, the central one carved with a taotie mask, between mythical creatures at either end, the central panel with a band of overlapping lotus petals in low relief above thirteen rectangular cartouches enclosing various motifs including Buddhist emblems, apsaras and mythical creatures, all above a wave band, traces of pigments
19½ in. (49.5cm.) high; 81 1/8 in. (206cm.) long; 5 7/8 in. (15cm.) deep

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

According to Lefebvre d'Argence these decorative motifs relate to the standard repertory found in Buddhist cave temples during the Northern Wei period. A similarly carved lintel is in the Avery Brundage Collection and another with comparable composite beasts, is the tombstone of the Lady Yuan of the Northern Wei dynasty (dated 522AD), The Representational Art of the Six Dynasties Period, Toshio Nagahiro, 1969, pls.13-16. See other related examples, Chinese, Korean and Japanese Sculpture, Avery Brundage Collection, San Francisco Asian Art Museum, Rene-Yvon Lefebvre d'Argencé Kodansha, 1974, pl.50, page 120; and Alan Priest Chinese Sculpture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Alan Priest, New York, 1944, pl.LIII.

More from CHINESE EXPORT CERAMICS

View All