• Classical Chinese Art from the auction at Christies

    Sale 13755

    Classical Chinese Art from the Sui to the Song Dynasties

    Convention Hall

    |

    1 June 2016

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    • A WHITE-GLAZED HUMAN-SHAPED VE
    Lot 3103 | THE PROPERTY OF A HONG KONG COLLECTOR Read more

    A WHITE-GLAZED HUMAN-SHAPED VESSEL, ZUN

    SUI-EARLY TANG DYNASTY, 6TH-7TH CENTURY

    Price realised

    HKD 500,000

    Estimate

    HKD 400,000 - HKD 600,000

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    A WHITE-GLAZED HUMAN-SHAPED VESSEL, ZUN
    SUI-EARLY TANG DYNASTY, 6TH-7TH CENTURY
    The vessel is modelled in the form of a kneeling foreigner, with characteristic almond-shaped eyes, prominent nose, and high check bones. He is dressed in a long coat and a helmet-like hat, holding in his arms a leather sack with a flower-shaped mouth. It is covered overall with a finely crackled clear glaze with a pale greenish tinge.
    13 5/8 in. (34.5 cm.) high, box

    Provenance

    A Hong Kong private collection, acquired in 1986

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    Lot Essay

    Vessels of this type represent foreigners of various ethnic types, demonstrating the diversity and cosmopolitan nature of the population of Tang dynasty China. A closely related vessel in the shape of a foreigner with mustache and combed hair was found in the tomb of Duan Boyang, dated to the second year of Qianfeng (667), illustrated in the Zhongguo chutu ciqi quanji (Complete Collection of Ceramic Art Unearthed in China), Beijing, 2008, vol. 15: Shaanxi, p. 22.

    Other information

    Pre-Lot Text

    THE PROPERTY OF A HONG KONG COLLECTOR

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