Large Chinese Ming Glazed Charger

A Han-style bronze weight in the form of a chimera, with a tortoise-like shell, dragonesque head and claws and flaming tail; hollow-formed. 447 grams, 10.9 cm

Fine condition.

Acquired 1980-1990s. From a West Country collection.

A ceramic horse and female rider figure, modelled in the round on a rhomboidal base; the horse portrayed with semi-naturalistic anatomical detailing, medium-length mane, short tail dressed with a ribbon, its head angled slightly downwards and ears pricked forwards; the female rider modelled seated in a saddle, wearing a knee-length robe and boots, arms held in front of her body, hands held in a gripping position to accept reins (absent), her hair dressed in a top knot, stylised facial features; extensive remains of polychrome pigmentation. 5.1 kg, 45 cm high



Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.C122h21 from Oxford Authentication.

In Tang art, poetry and painting the horse was exalted. The delight taken in portraying horses became an end in itself. Women were made to mount them, according to the Tang conception, so that the two can be considered together, introducing in China a fashion from Kotan.

A hollow-formed bronze statue of seated Buddha crowned and wearing a flounced robe in the lotus posture, hands held in the mudra for reassurance. 16.8 kg, 60 cm high



French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France. with Ogotai (?) Auctions, Paris, France, 15 August 2016. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11716-199360.