Page 82 - Bonhams Art from the Scholar's Studio, September 16, 2013 NY

8127
A rare massive blue and sancai glazed pottery figure of an earth spirit
Tang dynasty (618-907)
Seated with four hoofs planted on the rock work base, the face with an animated fierce expression
with fearsome fangs and bulging eyes, its proud chest and belly highlighted by sancai glazes, with
feathered wings sprouting from the shoulders, and an unglazed flame-form flange rising from the
back of the neck, the wings and face with splashes of blue glaze.
47 1/4in (120cm) high
$50,000 - 80,000
Provenance:
Christie’s New York, sale 2463, September 16, 2011 lot 1455
Christie’s New York, sale 8606, March 20, 1997 lot 46
The Jingguangtang Collection
Literature:
The Tsui Museum of Art, Chinese Ceramics I, Hong Kong, 1993, no. 121
The result of Oxford thermoluminescence test no 866b48 is consistent with the dating of this lot.
This earth spirit (zhenmushou) is unusual for its remarkably large size and bold use of blue glaze.
Although turquoise glazes are used infrequently in other mingqi pieces dating from the Tang, the
appearance on an earth spirit, as in the present example, is incredibly rare.

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