Scientific Analysis Report: A thermoluminescence analysis report issued by Oxford Authentication on 2 July 1997, based on sample number C97c95, sets the firing date of two samples taken at between 900 and 1400 years ago. A copy of the report, issued by Oxford Authentication, accompanies this lot.

China, 618-906. The camel standing foursquare on a pierced rectangular base, the neck raised, carrying a saddle with saddle bag in the form of beast masks, coils of twisted cloth, vessels, game birds, a hare, and other provisions, surmounted by a small monkey clinging to the front hump, the buff ware highlighted in red, black, and white pigments. The saddle attached to the camel with a painted key-fret band.

Provenance: Christie's New York, 18 September 1997, lot 344, sold for USD 55,200 or approx. EUR 98,000 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). The Harold and Ruth Newman Collection, Connecticut, acquired from the above. 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 old repair as generally expected from Tang dynasty excavations. Extensive wear, soiling, losses, chips, cracks, and soil encrustations. Holes from sample taking.

Dimensions: Height 73.5 cm

Depictions of monkeys perched on camels are quite rare. The inclusion of a monkey on the pack may be a whimsical notion. It could also depict the trader's pet or may represent part of the trade goods carried by the camel.

Camels played a crucial part in the long-distance trade along the Silk Road during the Tang dynasty. Camels were treasured for their reliability and capability of crossing the two main deserts, Gobi and the Tarim, and were specially bred in China on the grasslands of present-day Shanxi and Gansu provinces. Even though camels were not native to China, they became a common sight in the Tang capital Chang'an and large cities such as Luoyang.

Literature comparison:
Compare a related glazed pottery group depicting a monkey seated on a Bactrian camel, Tang dynasty, in the collection of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, illustrated in Oriental Ceramics, The World's Great Collections, vol. 8, Tokyo, 1982, no. 35. Compare also a related group depicting a camel with monkey, Tang dynasty, in the collection of the Asian Civilizations Museum, accession number 2003-00227.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 9 September 2005, lot 253
Price: USD 120,000 or approx. EUR 174,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A superb 'camel-and-monkey' pottery group, early Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related subject. Note the different pose and smaller size (61 cm).



唐代罕見大型駱駝猴子陶俑
中國，618-906年。駱駝四足站立，仰頸，背負獸面鞍袋、捻布捲、器皿、獵鳥、野兔及其他補給品，背上騎著小猴子，淺黃色陶器，彩繪，固定在駱駝上的馬鞍。

科學檢測報告：牛津檢測研究所1997年7月2日出具的熱釋光報告，樣本號C97c95，確定陶俑為900-1400年前所製。隨附報告複印本。
來源： 紐約佳士得，1997年9月18日，lot 344，售價 USD 55,200 或相當於 EUR 98,000 (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：舊修補，大量磨損、污漬、缺損、磕損、裂縫和土壤結殼。取樣孔。

尺寸：高 73.5 厘米

猴子騎在駱駝上的造像非常少見，可能是商人的寵物或代表駱駝攜帶的貨物。

駱駝在唐代絲綢之路的長途貿易中發揮了重要作用。駱駝因其可靠性和穿越戈壁和塔里木這兩個主要沙漠的能力而受到珍視，在今山西和甘肅省的草原上專門飼養。儘管駱駝並非中國原產，但在唐都長安和洛陽等大城市卻隨處可見。

文獻比較：
比較一件相近的唐代駱駝猴子俑，收藏於斯德哥爾摩的東方博物館，見 Oriental Ceramics，《The World's Great Collections》，卷8，東京，1982，編號35。比較一件相近的唐代駱駝猴子俑 ，收藏於Asian Civilizations Museum，館藏編號2003-00227。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：相近
拍賣：紐約蘇富比，2005年9月9日，lot 253
價格：USD 120,000（相當於今日EUR 174,000）
描述：唐代駱駝猴子陶俑組
專家評論：比較非常相近的主題。請注意不同的姿勢和尺寸較小(61 厘米)。