Very Large Chinese Han Terracotta Guardian Dog

HAN DYNASTY, 206 B.C.-220 A.D.

24 in. (14.35 kg, 61 cm high).

Unglazed terracotta mingqi symbolic guard dog, a chowchow in alert stance with head erect and ears pricked; integrally modelled harness to neck, shoulders and back; one paw repaired. [No Reserve]

Provenance

From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000.
From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report from Oxford Authentication no.C124d6.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12153-214720.

Literature

Cf. similar figure in the Miho Museum, Shiga, Japan: 'Tomb Figure of a Dog'.

Footnotes

Ceramic dog figures were used as a tomb-guardians, to protect the grave and its contents.

CONDITION

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LOT 1944