TANG DYNASTY

Details

A rare pair of painted red pottery figures of earth spirits
Tang Dynasty
The seated mythical beasts both modelled with wings at the shoulders, one with a puffy humanoid face painted with a small beard, bulbous eyes and a spade-shaped upright pallet set between the bat-like ears, the other with leonine face and zebra-pattern skin, baring its fierce teeth, with a flame form crest issuing from the head before a central curved horn between the ears, painted in bright colours with elaborate patterns, minor chips to the extremities
38.3 cm. high (2)

Special notice

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Lot Essay

These fearsome and intimidating guardians were buried in four corners of the tomb to protect the deceased and his treasures. Modelled with ferocious humanoid and leonine faces, agressive expressions and muscular bodies, they show the fertile imagination of the potter.

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