Tang Cobalt Blue Glaze Seated Rabbit Ceramic Sculpture,Tang Dynasty (7th-10th Century)

拍品描述

Dimensions: Overall Height 10cm (3.94in), Base Length 6cm (2.36in), Tang Dynasty, 7th to 10th CenturyCondition & Provenance: The whole sculpture is fully intact with no cracks, chips or restorations, the rabbit figurine and hexagonal base are preserved flawlessly. The entire piece is covered with rich cobalt blue low-temperature lead glaze, covered all over with naturally fine uniform crackles without artificial post-treatment crackle marks. The glaze carries soft antique luster, minor slight glaze wear along the base rim reveals earthy yellow pottery clay. The bottom is unglazed with coarse porous clay covered in natural mottled ancient soil patina, a circular vent hole is left on the base, all classic firing marks of ancient Tang pottery are clearly visible. Category: Pre-Song porcelain, market destination: Hong Kong. This rabbit sculpture comes from the private collection of a veteran Tang tri-color collector in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The collector purchased this artifact from a long-established antique gallery in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong back in 2001, all original purchase invoices, thermoluminescence dating test reports and official ceramic appraisal certificates are fully preserved.Description: This seated rabbit pottery sculpture coated with low-temperature cobalt blue glaze dates back to China’s Tang Dynasty, it was a mythical beast burial figurine for Tang noble tombs. Blue-glazed pottery relics are pretty scarce, and fully preserved specimens are extremely hard to come by in today’s antique market. The rabbit is sculpted in a squatting posture with plump rounded body, ears laid flat against its head, realistic soft carving details on eyes, nose and mouth. Its four limbs curl neatly on the hexagonal base with distinct crisp paw lines, delivering a cute lively look that fully reflects the plump grand aesthetic standard of Tang Dynasty sculpture art. The entire figurine is fully covered with deep even cobalt blue glaze with thick fluid glaze coating, fine natural ice crackles spread all over the body from rabbit head down to the base after thousands of years underground, the crackle layers form naturally without man-made alteration. The base is a chamfered hexagon, thin glaze along the rim exposes pale yellow pottery clay inside, the unglazed bottom with coarse clay is covered in natural aged soil patina, the circular vent hole was reserved for even heating during kiln firing, a standard craft feature of Tang pottery sculptures. Rabbits symbolize peace and auspiciousness in Tang culture, cobalt blue pigment was imported rare material back then, so blue glaze wares were exclusively used for high-ranking nobles’ burial goods. This rabbit sculpture retains vivid intact shape, pure consistent glaze tone and natural ancient crackles, acting as a core physical specimen for academic research on Tang low-temperature blue glaze firing craft and Tang animal sculpture aesthetics, holding extraordinary archaeological significance and scarce high-end ancient pottery collectible value.

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