Page 108 - Important Chinese Ceramics & Works of Art, Hong Kong

PROPERTY FROM THE CHINHUATANG COLLECTION

3305

A MAGNIFICENT SANCAI-GLAZED CAMEL AND A

FOREIGN ATTENDANT

TANG DYNASTY (618-907)

The amber-glazed camel is naturalistically shown striding, with the mane, tail,

and two humps highlighted in cream glaze. The head arches strongly upwards

with the mouth agape revealing long pointed teeth and tongue. The camel’s

back is laden with a bulging sack moulded on either side with a large monster

mask and various provisions including a ewer and a pilgrim flask, all above

fitted white saddle cloth.

Camel: 34 ¬ in. (88 cm.) high; attendant: 26 in. (66 cm.) high (2)

HK$3,800,000-5,000,000 US$500,000-650,000

PROVENANCE

The Dexinshuwu Collection, acquired in Taipei, prior to 1995

EXHIBITED

Chang Foundation, Ching Wan Society Millennium Exhibition, Taipei, 2000,
Catalogue, pl. 64

Sancai camels of such large size are extremely rare and the most highly prized
among collectors. Elaborately modelled with its head thrown up, bulging eyes, mouth
agape and ears alert, the sculpture successfully imparts a sense of realism and
subtle movement. A comparable striding amber-glazed camel also naturalistically
modelled with its head powerfully arched upwards and mouth agape is in the Nelson
Atkins Museum, Kansas, illustrated in Zhongguo sancai, Taipei, 1997, p.113, pl. 20-1.
The present camel is further distinguished by its imposing monster mask-form sack
fastened with various trade goods, including a ewer and a pilgrim flask, which adds
a refined finish to the beautiful, amber-glazed body. Similarly rendered saddle sacks
and blankets with moulded monster masks also appear on a camel of similar size
but in different glaze colours in the British Museum Collection, London, illustrated in
Sekai toji zenshu, vol. 11, Tokyo, 1976, p. 148, no. 136.

The result of Oxford Authentication thermoluminescence test (no. C298j57 for the
attendant; no. C298j54 for the camel, 6 January 1999) is consistent with the dating of
this lot.

唐 三彩雙峰駱駝及胡人俑

來源
德馨書屋珍藏，1995 前購於台北
金華堂珍藏

展覽
鴻禧美術館，《千禧年清翫雅集收藏展》，台北，2000 年，圖版 64 號

體型龐大之三彩駱駝極為罕見。此駱駝之頭部刻劃入微，曲項向天，雙眼炯視，立耳
張口，裝飾手法極為寫實傳神。美國堪薩斯州納爾遜 ‧ 阿特金斯藝術博物館藏有一
件神態與此類似的唐三彩雙峰駱駝，著錄於《中國三彩》，台北，1997 年，113 頁，
圖版編號 20-1。此件駱駝的另一重要特色為其背上的獸面紋囊及一旁所繫的酒瓶、
執壺等物，載有類似裝束的三彩駱駝，可比較一件大小相若但釉色相異的例子，著錄
於《世界陶瓷全集》，第 11 冊，東京，1976 年，148 頁，編號 136。

此拍品經牛津熱釋光測年法檢測（人俑測試編號 C298j57；駱駝測試編號 C298j54，
1999 年 1 月 6 日），證實與本圖錄之定年符合。

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