Page 86 - Sotheby's Junkunc Collection March 2019

118 A PAIR OF PAINTED POTTERY FIGURES OF WARRIORS
NORTHERN WEI DYNASTY
北魏 灰陶加彩武士立像一對

each modeled in the round, standing at attention with one arm by the side and one resting on a long shield molded with a
scowling monster mask, the face echoing this expression with a similar downturned mouth, furrowed brows and with a dark
curly beard, attired in armor, a tunic with two breastplates, a helmet cap covering the ears and neck, all detailed in red and
black pigment (2)
Height 12½ in., 31.1 cm

$ 5,000-7,000

PROVENANCE 來源
Warren E. Cox, New York. Warren E. Cox 收藏，紐約
Collection of Stephen Junkunc, III (d.1978). 史蒂芬•瓊肯三世（1978年逝）收藏

With their fierce scowls, the present warrior figures would have guarded the tombs of the elite, along with a plethora
of other figures and objects deemed necessary for the afterlife. Despite their intimidating expressions, they
epitomize the attenuated style of Northern Wei sculpture, seen through their upright frontal stance and slender,
columnar figures. The low relief modeling, found particularly in pottery of this period, is accented by details such as
the subtle curl of the beard, the upturned nose or the similarly expressive monster mask on the shields.

A closely related figure was exhibited at The China Institute of America, Art of the Six Dynasties, New York, 1975, cat.
no. 27, and later sold in these rooms 2nd November 1979, lot 149. Compare a similar example illustrated in Foreigners
in Chinese Art, The China Institute of America, New York, 1969, cat. no. 46, and one sold in our London rooms, 11th
March 1969, lot 72. See also a figure with slightly different dress and missing its octagonal shield, illustrated in Into
the Afterlife: Han and Six Dynasties Chinese Tomb Sculpture from the Schloss collection, Vassar College Art Museum,
Poughkeepsie, 1990, cat. no. 38.

本對像面容威猛，相信乃貴族陵墓之守衛造像，與其他冥 比較一例，曾展於華美協進社，《Art of the Six Dynas-
器及造像並置，供奉陵墓主人後世所用。此對像表情孔武 ties》，紐約，1975年，編號27，後售於紐約蘇富比1979
攝人，然而風格抽象，具北魏造型特色如筆直站姿及修長 年11月2日，編號149。另比一例，圖載於《Foreigners in
柱狀身軀等。淺浮雕乃此時期陶器特色，配合造像細節， Chinese Art》，華美協進社，紐約，1969年，編號46。
相得益彰，如鬍鬚微卷、鼻尖上翹、手持盾牌上飾獸首 倫敦蘇富比亦曾售一例，1969年3月11日，編號72。再比
等。 一例，服袍稍異，無八方盾，圖見 Candace J. Lewis，
《Into the Afterlife: Han and Six Dynasties Chinese
Tomb Sculpture from the Schloss collection》，瓦薩學
院藝術博物館，波啟浦夕，1990年，編號38。

84 JUNKUNC: ARTS OF ANCIENT CHINA