China, 618-906. Each animal braying with its head raised, the back covered with a teardrop-shaped saddle between its humps, painted with large eyes, orange fur, and white saddle with lozenge pattern, one camel with upright standing hairs to the head. (2)

Provenance: Sotheby's New York, 3 June 1992, lot 165, estimate USD 10,000 or approx. EUR 20,000 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Harold and Ruth Newman, Connecticut, acquired from the above in an after-sale transaction. Harold Newman (1931-2021) earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Oklahoma, where he first developed a lifelong interest in Asian studies. He served in the U.S. Army in Strategic Intelligence for two years before beginning an investment career with Goldman Sachs. In addition to his career in finance, Newman was a trustee of the Asia Society in New York City, a board member of The Hertz Foundation and MCC Theater, and a producer of well-known plays In the Heights and Hamilton, among others. Newman established the University of Oklahoma Institute for US-China Issues and the Newman Prize, the first American award for Chinese literature. Together with his wife Ruth, they also supported the Asia Society Museum with a significant gift including works from famous East Asian artists.
Condition: Some repairs and touch-ups as generally expected from Tang dynasty excavations. Extensive wear, minor losses, chips, cracks, remnants of ancient pigments, and soil encrustations.

Weight: 1.9 kg and 1.8 kg
Dimensions: Height 20.8 cm and 21.4 cm, Length circa 31.5 cm (each)

From the 6th century onwards and throughout the entire Tang dynasty, the Bactrian camel frequently appears among the tomb figures of China. Imported from the Tarim Basin, eastern Turkestan, and Mongolia, it was an essential means of transporting merchants and cargo along the Silk Road into China. The species was highly regarded by the Tang emperors who established dedicated offices to oversee the imperial camel herd. Referred to as the ships of the desert, camels endured hot temperatures and were the essential method of transport for merchants wishing to conduct trade with the oasis cities of Central Asia, such as Samarkand, Bukhara and Isfahan, along the trading routes of the ancient Silk Road.

Expert’s note: This pair of camels is highly unusual as each camel has four holes to the underside, probably for the insertion of wooden legs for support inside the tomb.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related figure of a recumbent camel, Tang dynasty, in the collection of the Asian Civilization Museum, accession number 1997-01942.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Bonhams London, 11 May 2021, lot 72
Price: GBP 4,845 or approx. EUR 6,300 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A fine painted pottery model of a camel, Tang Dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the related pose and pigments. Note the similar size (35 cm).



唐代一對罕見彩繪駱駝俑
中國，618-906年。端臥駱駝，似在仰頭嗥叫，駝峰間覆馬鞍，大眼，橘色皮毛。

來源：紐約蘇富比，1992年6月 3日，估價 USD 10,000 或相當於 EUR 20,000 (根據通貨膨脹率)。Harold 與 Ruth Newman，康乃狄克州，購於上述拍賣。Harold Newman (1931-2021年) 在俄克拉荷馬大學獲得了本科學位，在那裡他第一次對亞洲研究產生了興趣。在高盛 (Goldman Sachs) 開始投資生涯之前，他在美國陸軍的戰略情報部門服役了兩年。 除了他在金融領域的經歷，Newman還是紐約市亞洲協會的受託人、赫茲基金會和 MCC 劇院的董事會成員，以及著名戲劇 In the Highs 和 Hamilton 等的製作人。Newman創立了俄克拉荷馬大學美中問題研究所和Newman獎，這是美國第一個中國文學獎。他還與他的妻子Ruth一起，為亞洲協會博物館提供了重要的禮物，其中包括著名東亞藝術家的作品。
品相：一些修復和潤色，嚴重磨損、碎片、裂縫、顏料殘留和土壤結殼。

重量：分別爲1.9 公斤與1.8 公斤
尺寸：高分別爲 20.8 厘米 與21.4 厘米，長分別爲31.5 厘米

公元六世紀起，貫穿整個唐代，雙峰駝頻繁出現在墓葬中。它從塔里木盆地、東突厥斯坦和蒙古進口，是絲綢之路沿線商人帶著貨物進入中國的重要交通工具，受到唐朝皇帝的高度重視，他們設立了專門的署衙來監管皇家駱駝群。

專家注釋：這對駱駝非常不尋常，因為每隻駱駝的底部都有四個孔，可能是為了插入木架以用來墓葬。

文獻比較：
比較一件相近的唐代臥駱駝俑，收藏於Asian Civilization Museum，館藏編號1997-01942。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：倫敦邦瀚斯，2021年5月11日，lot 72
價格：GBP 4,845（相當於今日EUR 6,300）
描述：唐彩繪陶駱駝俑
專家評論：比較相近的姿勢和顏料。請注意相似的尺寸(35 厘米)。