LOT 0279

'The Desmond Morris' Chinese Tang Camel

TANG DYNASTY, 618-907 AD

20" (4.9 kg, 51cm).

A glazed ceramic Bactrian camel modelled in the round standing on an integral rectangular base, neck thrown back, head held aloft, with semi-naturalistic detailing to mouth, head, eyes, mane, tail and feet; cream and brown glaze.

From the celebrated personal collection of art formed by the famous anthropologist, artist, and television presenter Desmond Morris; acquired in the UK from Orientalist Gallery in November 1998; accompanied by positive thermoluminescence report by Oxford Authentication no.C117j11, and an old cataloguing page showing a price of £13,500.00; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10839-178618.

See The Metropolitan Museum, accession number 67.43.1, for similar.

Desmond Morris, author of The Naked Ape, Manwatching, The Naked Eye, and countless other books concerning human and animal behaviour, a professional zoologist, surrealist artist, lecture and television celebrity, has been an avid collector of ancient art; his collection of Cypriot art was sold at Christie's in 2001. This camel was the star item in his specialist collection of Chinese art sold privately prior to his move to Ireland.