A PAINTED POTTERY FIGURE OF A CHARGING MYTHICAL BEAST, HAN DYNASTY

拍品描述

A PAINTED POTTERY FIGURE OF A CHARGING MYTHICAL BEAST, HAN DYNASTY Scientific Analysis Report: A thermoluminescence analysis report issued by Oxford Authentication on 3 August 2026, based on sample number C126j61, sets the firing date of the two samples taken between 1500 and 2400 years ago, consistent with the dating above. A copy of the report accompanies this lot. China, 206 BC - 220 AD. Boldly modeled, the mythical beast with a powerful body supported on four sturdy legs, the flanks carved with spirals. The arched neck ends in a lowered head with large bulging eyes, a broad muzzle with nostrils, and long jaws, while the back is surmounted by a low ridge and the muscular haunches issue a long tail rising dramatically upward and curling inward at the tip. Dimensions: Length 28.7 cm This fierce and dynamically rendered creature belongs to a group of fantastic beasts placed in tombs during the Han and Western Jin dynasties, where they were probably intended to protect the deceased and ward off malevolent spirits in the afterlife. Such creatures may relate to the supernatural animals described in the Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu, 後漢書), compiled in the fifth century, which records fantastic beings associated with the spirit world. Their appearance could herald auspicious events and good fortune, while their supernatural powers were believed to repel evil and protect against harmful forces. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related earthenware mythical beast, dated to the Western Jin dynasty, 3rd-4th century, in the Tokyo National Museum, collection reference no. TJ-666. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 19 March 2019, lot 110 Price: USD 32,500 or approx. EUR 37,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the related modeling and subject with similar pose. Note the horns and larger size (41.8 cm).

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