Estimate: € 8,000.00 - € 10,000.00
Starting bid: € 7,000.00
Starting bid: € 7,000.00
The body of the mythical creature is made of light-coloured terracotta, in sancai glazed terracotta. The head is not glazed.
H. 71 cm
A rare and important apotropaic lion-man, depicted sitting on a tall perforated base. This type of sculpture was believed to have the magical power to ward off evil spirits and was therefore often placed at the entrance to burial chambers.
EXHIBITED:
Biennale Internazionale di Antiquariato di Roma 2010
LITERATURE:
Similar figures appear in M. Pirazzoli-t'Serstevens, ¿L'arte per la vita nell'Aldilà¿ (Art for Life in the Afterlife), Turin, Edizioni Fondazione Giovanni Agnelli, 2002, vol. III, tvv.439-440; W. Watson, ¿La Céramique Tang e Liao¿ (Tang and Liao Ceramics), Fribourg (Switzerland), 1984, fig. 229; Various Authors, ¿Treasures of Chang'an¿, Hong Kong, Museum of Art, 1994, tv. 92
H. 71 cm
A rare and important apotropaic lion-man, depicted sitting on a tall perforated base. This type of sculpture was believed to have the magical power to ward off evil spirits and was therefore often placed at the entrance to burial chambers.
EXHIBITED:
Biennale Internazionale di Antiquariato di Roma 2010
LITERATURE:
Similar figures appear in M. Pirazzoli-t'Serstevens, ¿L'arte per la vita nell'Aldilà¿ (Art for Life in the Afterlife), Turin, Edizioni Fondazione Giovanni Agnelli, 2002, vol. III, tvv.439-440; W. Watson, ¿La Céramique Tang e Liao¿ (Tang and Liao Ceramics), Fribourg (Switzerland), 1984, fig. 229; Various Authors, ¿Treasures of Chang'an¿, Hong Kong, Museum of Art, 1994, tv. 92