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LOT 2281
Chinese Tang Terracotta Rhinoceros
TANG DYNASTY, 618-907 A.D.
20 3/4 in. (5.54 kg, 53 cm long).
A large figure showing the beast in an alert pose with raised head, flaring nostrils and pricked ears, the folds on the body indicated in red pigment; tail repaired.
ProvenanceEx Hong Kong collection, 1990s.
From a London, UK, collection.
Accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report no.02C26042024 from Laboratory Kotalla.
Rhinoceroses in ancient China were highly revered and the depictions in art are typically lifelike, the earliest example is a bronze zun vessel, which is thought to date to the 11th century B.C. During Tang Dynasty, tamed rhinos were presented by foreign embassies to the court.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Tek Sing Treasure Shipwreck Glazed Blue and White Bowl Set
Early 19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Each footed with painted blue floral motifs and circumferential lines, design to inner centre and signature to underside. 1.2 kg total, 12.7 cm
Ex Nagel Auction, with official Tek Sing Treasure labels to veso. Accompanied by an illustrated information sheet about the Tek Sing shipwreck.
The Tek Sing (True Star) wreck is one of the famous recovery stories of the 20th century. Sailing from the port of Xiamen (then known as Amoy) in February 1822 the vessel Tek Sing was bound for Jakarta, Indonesia laden with porcelain goods and 1600 Chinese emigrants. The captain decided to pass through the Gaspar Strait, between the Bangka-Belitung Islands, and ran aground on a reef. The vessel sank in about 100 feet of water. The next morning, February 7, an English East Indiaman captained by James Pearl, passing through the same waters, encountered debris and some survivors and managed to rescue about 190 of the latter. -
Tek Sing Treasure Shipwreck Glazed Blue and White Dish Set
Early 19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Each footed with painted blue floral motifs inside and out, blue border to upper edge. 1.38 kg total, 15 cm
Ex Nagel Auction, with official Tek Sing Treasure labels to veso. Accompanied by an illustrated information sheet about the Tek Sing shipwreck.
The Tek Sing (True Star) wreck is one of the famous recovery stories of the 20th century. Sailing from the port of Xiamen (then known as Amoy) in February 1822 the vessel Tek Sing was bound for Jakarta, Indonesia laden with porcelain goods and 1600 Chinese emigrants. The captain decided to pass through the Gaspar Strait, between the Bangka-Belitung Islands, and ran aground on a reef. The vessel sank in about 100 feet of water. The next morning, February 7, an English East Indiaman captained by James Pearl, passing through the same waters, encountered debris and some survivors and managed to rescue about 190 of the latter. -
Ca Mau Cargo Shipwreck Glazed Blue and White Dish Collection
Early 18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
Comprising six shallow plates: three with a dense floral border, central scene of a bird on a flower meadow; two with flowers within a hatched border; one with a flower bush before a fence. 468 grams total, 11-12 cm
Ex Sotheby's, Amsterdam, 29-31 January 2007. Accompanied by an illustrated information sheet about the Ca Mau shipwreck.
The Ca Mau shipwreck refers to a cargo of Chinese porcelain sunk between 1723 and 1735 off the coast of Vietnam. The wreck was discovered by Vietnamese fishermen in 1998. It is believed the wreck was a merchant’s junk on its way from Canton (Guangzhou) to Batavia when it caught fire and sank. The ship was carrying goods destined for Dutch traders who had limited access to China and its ports.
