15th Oct, 2021 10:00
TWO-DAY AUCTION - Fine Chinese Art / 中國藝術集珍 / Buddhism & Hinduism
143
A POTTERY HEAD OF A LION, TANG DYNASTY
唐代陶獅頭
Sold for €1,517
including Buyer's Premium
China, 618-907. The beast finely modeled with bulging eyes, a broad nose with flaring nostrils, the mouth opened revealing rows of teeth flanked by sharp fangs, the mane and ears neatly incised.
Provenance: Old Belgian private collection and thence by descent in the same family.
Condition: Excellent condition, commensurate with age, with some losses, remnants of ancient pigment. Fine, naturally grown patina and old wear from extensive handling over the centuries.
Weight: 416.7 g (excl. base)
Dimensions: Height 11 cm (excl. base) and 14.5 cm (incl. base)
With a fitted Chinese hardwood stand dating from around 1900. (2)
While lions are not native to China, some specimens apparently had reached there from the West by the Western Han period. There is evidence, for example, that lions were among the many exotic animals kept in the Han-dynasty imperial parks. Lion dancing originated during the Tang dynasty. Legend has it that the emperor had a dream one night in which a strange looking animal saved his life. The next morning, the emperor described the dream to his ministers. One minister told the emperor that the strange animal resembled a creature from the West, a lion. Lions have also had strong associations with Buddhism since the religion’s origin. The dharma, or Buddhist doctrine, is said to be spread through his roar. Since the strange animal saved the emperor in his dream, the lion quickly became a symbol of good luck throughout China.
Literature comparison: For related lion heads from the Tang dynasty, see:
- An earthenware rhyton with a lion head in the collection of the British Museum, museum number 1968,0422.21.
- A Sancai lion in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number C.922-1935.
- A small white marble head of a lion at Christie’s New York, 21 September 2004, lot 135.
- A gray limestone figure of a lion at Christie’s New York, 23 March 2012, lot 1762.
唐代陶獅頭
中國，618-907年。獅頭造像生動，雙眼凸出，寬鼻，鼻孔張開，大嘴露出一排排鋒利的獠牙，鬃毛和耳朵細節鮮明。
來源：比利時私人收藏，保存在同一家族至今
品相：狀況極佳，與年代相符，有一些缺損，古代顔料殘餘。幾個世紀來自然生長的細膩包漿和舊磨損。
重量：416.7 克 (不含底座)
尺寸：高11 厘米 (不含底座)，14.5 厘米 (含底座)
配套大約1900年代的中國硬木底座 (2)
文獻比較：來自唐代的相似獅頭，見：
• 陶獅頭見British Museum, museum number 1968,0422.21.
• 三彩獅子見Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number C.922-1935.
• 小大理石獅頭見紐約佳士得2004年9月21日, lot 135.
• 石灰石獅子像見紐約佳士得2012年3月 23日 lot 1762.
China, 618-907. The beast finely modeled with bulging eyes, a broad nose with flaring nostrils, the mouth opened revealing rows of teeth flanked by sharp fangs, the mane and ears neatly incised.
Provenance: Old Belgian private collection and thence by descent in the same family.
Condition: Excellent condition, commensurate with age, with some losses, remnants of ancient pigment. Fine, naturally grown patina and old wear from extensive handling over the centuries.
Weight: 416.7 g (excl. base)
Dimensions: Height 11 cm (excl. base) and 14.5 cm (incl. base)
With a fitted Chinese hardwood stand dating from around 1900. (2)
While lions are not native to China, some specimens apparently had reached there from the West by the Western Han period. There is evidence, for example, that lions were among the many exotic animals kept in the Han-dynasty imperial parks. Lion dancing originated during the Tang dynasty. Legend has it that the emperor had a dream one night in which a strange looking animal saved his life. The next morning, the emperor described the dream to his ministers. One minister told the emperor that the strange animal resembled a creature from the West, a lion. Lions have also had strong associations with Buddhism since the religion’s origin. The dharma, or Buddhist doctrine, is said to be spread through his roar. Since the strange animal saved the emperor in his dream, the lion quickly became a symbol of good luck throughout China.
Literature comparison: For related lion heads from the Tang dynasty, see:
- An earthenware rhyton with a lion head in the collection of the British Museum, museum number 1968,0422.21.
- A Sancai lion in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number C.922-1935.
- A small white marble head of a lion at Christie’s New York, 21 September 2004, lot 135.
- A gray limestone figure of a lion at Christie’s New York, 23 March 2012, lot 1762.
唐代陶獅頭
中國，618-907年。獅頭造像生動，雙眼凸出，寬鼻，鼻孔張開，大嘴露出一排排鋒利的獠牙，鬃毛和耳朵細節鮮明。
來源：比利時私人收藏，保存在同一家族至今
品相：狀況極佳，與年代相符，有一些缺損，古代顔料殘餘。幾個世紀來自然生長的細膩包漿和舊磨損。
重量：416.7 克 (不含底座)
尺寸：高11 厘米 (不含底座)，14.5 厘米 (含底座)
配套大約1900年代的中國硬木底座 (2)
文獻比較：來自唐代的相似獅頭，見：
• 陶獅頭見British Museum, museum number 1968,0422.21.
• 三彩獅子見Victoria and Albert Museum, accession number C.922-1935.
• 小大理石獅頭見紐約佳士得2004年9月21日, lot 135.
• 石灰石獅子像見紐約佳士得2012年3月 23日 lot 1762.
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