Lot Essay
For other examples standing foursquare and with simple monster mask packs see Tang Sancai, Heibonsha Series, Japan, 1977, vol. 35, fig. 101; Sekai Toji Zenshu, Tokyo, 1961, vol. 9, pl. 126; and Suzanne Valenstein, The Hertzman Collection of Chinese Ceramics, New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1992, no. 22
The Bactrian camel was not indigenous to China. Refer to Ezekiel Schloss, Ancient Chinese Ceramic Sculpture, Stamford, Connecticut, 1977, vol. I, pl. 220, where he discusses the importation of tens of thousands of camels from the states of the Tarim Basin, Eastern Turkestan, and Mongolia. The Tang state even created a special office to supervise the imperial camel herds which carried out various state assignments, including military courier service for the northern frontier. The camel was also used by the court and the merchants for local transportation and, of course, were the 'ships of the desert' linking China to the oasis cities of central Asia, Samarkand, Persia and Syria
The result of Oxford thermoluminescence test no. 866b56 is consistent with the dating of this lot
The Bactrian camel was not indigenous to China. Refer to Ezekiel Schloss, Ancient Chinese Ceramic Sculpture, Stamford, Connecticut, 1977, vol. I, pl. 220, where he discusses the importation of tens of thousands of camels from the states of the Tarim Basin, Eastern Turkestan, and Mongolia. The Tang state even created a special office to supervise the imperial camel herds which carried out various state assignments, including military courier service for the northern frontier. The camel was also used by the court and the merchants for local transportation and, of course, were the 'ships of the desert' linking China to the oasis cities of central Asia, Samarkand, Persia and Syria
The result of Oxford thermoluminescence test no. 866b56 is consistent with the dating of this lot