Page 68 - Decorative Asian Art, Bonhams San Francisco June 28, 2017
P. 68
6184 6187
TWO PAINTED POTTERY TOMB FIGURES A PAINTED POTTERY MODEL OF A HORSE
The larger of Northern Qi style with a youthful face framed by a Tang dynasty
hooded helmet, showing remains of black pigment and white The steed modeled in mid-stride with its right front leg raised, its
gesso; the smaller a Tang style groom wearing a peaked bonnet, head turned to the left against a gust of wind that has blown the long
the surfaces showing remains of white gesso, carmine and black mane to the same side and caught the edges of the saddle blanket,
pigments (both with surfaces soiling, chips). the remaining legs attached to a low rectangular base and the
10 3/4 and 9 1/2in (27.4 and 24cm) high surfaces showing traces of color (tail off, extensively repaired).
22in (56cm) long
US$800 - 1,200
US$1,000 - 1,500
PROPERTY FROM THE MONTEREY MUSEUM OF ART, SOLD
TO BENEFIT THE MUSEUM FUNDS 6188
A SANCAI GLAZED POTTERY CAMEL
6185 Tang dynasty
A LARGE SANCAI GLAZED GUARDIAN FIGURE Its head raised and braying though an open jaw as it stands with
Tang dynasty its four legs attached to a low rectangular plinth, the coat covered
Standing with his raised right hand clenched to hold a now vanished with dark chestnut glaze that drips onto the plinth, the two humps
weapon and his left hand raised to ward off intruders, reinforced by highlighted with straw colored glaze and the blanket covering them
a fearsome visage to his unglazed head while his armor and trailing spattered with straw and leaf green glazes (repaired and retouched).
garments, boots and pierced rockery base are splashed or brushed 22 1/2in (57cm) high
with green, amber and straw colored glazes.
40 3/4in (103.5cm) high US$2,000 - 3,000
US$6,000 - 8,000 6189
A TANG STYLE MOLDED POTTERY FIGURE OF MAITREYA
Burial figures of such large size were manufactured for tombs The bodhisattva seated European style with his legs extended
belonging to the upper echelons of High Tang society. First downward to the front of a stepped throne partially supported on
discovered in the opening years of the 20th century, these figures two recumbent lions, the back to his throne separately molded with
have continued to be excavated in recent years. See, for example dragons climbing upward on each side toward a flame-shaped halo
the sancai glazed pottery warrior figure unearthed in the eastern emerging from a crossbeam terminating in dragon heads (chips).
suburbs of Xi’an in 1984 (published in The Gems of Cultural Relics 18in (45.8cm) height of figure and plinth
Compiled by the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, Shaanxi lu you chu 21 1/4 (54cm) height including throne back
ban she, 1992, p. 94, 86.7cm high); and a civil official in sancai glaze
excavated from Guanlin in the city of Loyang, Henan (published in the US$500 - 700
exhibition, Imperial Tombs of China, Memphis, 1995, p. 113, 107cm
high). 6190
A GROUP OF FOUR EARLY AND EARLY STYLE CERAMICS
A sancai glazed guardian figure from the Springfield Museums, Han dynasty and later
Springfield Massachusetts, virtually identical to this lot, was sold The first a Han high fired earthenware ovoid jar with stamped
in Christies, New York, sale 2689, 21-22 March 2013, lot 1162 decoration of squares, diamonds and stylized feathers impressed into
(42in/106.7cm high). See also the sancai glazed standing dignitary of the gray fabric (chips); the second a Six dynasties chicken-headed
equally impressive size sold in Bonhams, San Francisco, sale 20982, ewer with brown spots decorating the thin olive green glaze of Yue
24 June 2013, lot 1172 (47 1/2in/120.5cm high). type (handle repaired and repainted); the third a Tang neckless jar of
inverted pear form, the gray fabric showing remains of white gesso
PROPERTY FROM THE PORTLAND ART MUSEUM, coating (burial adhesions); the fourth a Han style painted pottery jar
PORTLAND, OREGON, SOLD TO BENEFIT THE MUSEUM with wide rim extending over the waisted neck. [4]
ACQUISITION FUND 14 3/4in (37.5cm) height of Han ovoid jar
6186 US$500 - 700
A PAIR OF PAINTED POTTERY WARRIORS
Northern Qi dynasty PROPERTY FROM ANOTHER OWNER
Each standing at attention with his boots resting on a faceted rock
pile, his right hand raised to hold a missing weapon and the left hand 6191
resting on a rectangular shield centered with a raised roundel, the A WHITE WARE MELON-SHAPED EWER
helmeted head now attached firmly to each body and the surfaces 10th/11th century
showing remains of polychrome-painted details (extensively repaired Formed with a flaring cupped rim on the waisted neck, a curving
and retouched). strap handle with a striated surface, the compressed globular body
15 3/4in (40cm) high molded into six lobes with a short spout and two clay loops on the
shoulder, the colorless glaze showing a faint glue-green tinge were
US$500 - 700 pooled along the outside edge of the low foot, leaving the foot pad
and recessed base unglazed (glaze degraded).
5 3/8in (13.5cm) high
US$2,500 - 4,000
66 | BONHAMS
