A Pair of Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) Pottery Earth Spirit Figures

A large Chinese terracotta tomb figure (Ni Yong) from the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD), likely from the area of modern-day Sichuan. It appears to depict a groom in full costume an...

This pot most likely came from what is now modern Kansu, the corridor west of the Yellow River and in the T'ao River Valley region of northwest China and east Mongolia. The Hsia Chia...

This is a fine, heavily patinated example of a Han hu wine storage vessel, buried for the afterlife. The compressed globular body narrows to a slender waisted neck, covered with a da...

This finely crafted piece was made high in the mountains of southeast China, Laos, Thailand and Burma (modern day Myanmar) by an indigenous hill tribe. The Hmong people are know for ...

This long and graceful Chinese altar table features an oxblood patina that has darkened with age. Oxblood is one of the three traditional Chinese lacquers, including red and black, both of which are fully opaque. Oxblood is semi-translucent and shows the beautiful wood grain below. The lacquer is made from actual animal blood dissolved into tree sap...

This finely crafted piece was made high in the mountains of Southeast China, Laos, Thailand and Burma (modern day Myanmar) by an indigenous hill tribe. The Hmong people are known for...

Changsha Ware has distinct and recognizable designs and motifs. Painted designs often depict flowers, vines, clouds and mountain landscapes. Some painting is simply splotches of colo...

Changsha Ware has distinct and recognizable designs and motifs. Painted designs often depict flowers, vines, clouds and mountain landscapes. Some painting is simply splotches of colo...

Pair of Earths Spirits "Zhenmushou" from the China Tang Dynasty 618-907 AD. A beautiful and rare pair of "Earths Spirits guardians" from the Yunnan province region in the ancient China. This was created in clay earthenware pottery during the Tang Dynasty period between 618 and 907 AD. Featuring the molded figures of two seated guardians with decorations with polychrome pigmentations. The figures are seated on their haunches with cloven hooves planted firmly on the base looking forward with their front legs in a straight position. Both with face and body alert expressions on a rectangular base. Earth spirits usually appear in pairs, one with a human head and the other with a lion head. Their supernatural powers, indicated by antlers, spiky flanges and flames, enable them to confront evil spirits and protect any precincts within their gaze. Have been believed to protect the living by keeping the spirits of the dead from inappropriately roaming the world outside the tomb. Zhenmushou or guardian deities, developed from a line of protective spirits found normally in pairs at the front of Tang dynasty tombs. They served both to protect the figure from untoward spirits, and the outside world from the roving spirit of the dead. Combining features from a number of animals to form the perfect mythic beast, these mythical creatures were perceived to be the ideal guardians of the dead The semi human faced figure has a measures of 11.25 by 4.5 by 5.75 inches (28.57 x 11.43 x 14.60 Cm). The mythological lion animal figure has a measures of 10 by 5 by 5.8 inches (24.5 x 12.7 x 14.73 Cm). Tang dynasty or Tang Empire, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Tend Kingdoms period. Historians generally regard the Tang as a high point in Chinese civilization, and a the golden age of cosmopolitan culture. Tang territory, acquired through the military campaigns of its early rulers, rivaled that of the Han dynasty. The Li family founded the dynasty, seizing power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire and inaugurating a period of progress and stability in the first half of the dynasty's rule. The dynasty was formally interrupted during 690–705 when Empress Wu Zetian seized the throne, proclaiming the Wu Zhou dynasty...

Period: Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD) terra-cotta over lead clay A pair of delicate Tang Dynasty dancers with long sleeves. Both ladies are wearing a long flowing dress with flared ...

To meet overseas demand, shapes of Changsha wares were also greatly influenced by exotic elements from beyond China. For example, lion-shaped artifacts were found, as were a number o...

Offering vessel from the Chinese Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). A beautiful "offering spiritual vessel" from the Yunnan province region in the ancient China. This was created in clay earthenware pottery during the Tang Dynasty period between 618 and 907 AD. Featuring molded patterns with incised and high reliefs of geometric figures. The design consists of the bombe baluster-shaped jug and a lid with a spherical knob, which are decorated in relief with 8 panels representing the petals of the lotus flower and linear geometric designs. Has a combined measures including the lid of 10.25 by 7.5 inches (26..03 x 19.05 Cm). Tang dynasty or Tang Empire, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Tend Kingdoms period. Historians generally regard the Tang as a high point in Chinese civilization, and a the golden age of cosmopolitan culture. Tang territory, acquired through the military campaigns of its early rulers, rivaled that of the Han dynasty. The Li family founded the dynasty, seizing power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire and inaugurating a period of progress and stability in the first half of the dynasty's rule. The dynasty was formally interrupted during 690–705 when Empress Wu Zetian seized the throne, proclaiming the Wu Zhou dynasty...