A Superb Painted Pottery Figure Of A Lokapala, Tang Dynasty

the formidable guardian king standing on a recumbent spotted deer with fists clenched in a menacing stance, dressed in full military attire, the powerful shoulders enhanced by makara epaulets, the armored breast plate bound with cords and sashes, the fringed apron tunic worn over a long skirt billowing out at the sides over tooled leather boots, the head vigorously modelled with bulbous eyes protruding from beneath furrowed brows, flared nostrils, thick lips and jutting jaw with finely pencilled beard, and framed by a tall phoenix helmet, all elaborately painted with floral motifs in a rich palette of turquoise, lime-green, coral-red and black. height 29 1/2 in., 74.9 cm. Estimate 30,000—50,000 USD

The dating of this lot is consistent with the results of a thermoluminescence test, Oxford Authentication Ltd., C101a15.

PROVENANCE: Acquired on the Hong Kong art market, early 1980s.
Offered at Sotheby's New York, 17th September 2003, lot 42.

NOTE: Compare a lokapala or tianwang (Heavenly Kings) from the Dunhuang caves in Gansu province, wearing layered armor embellished with floral decoration and a tight-fitting helmet with flaps illustrated in Annette Juliano and Judith Lerner, Monks and Merchants, Silk Treasures from Northwest China, New York, 2001, pl. 78; two figures, one of a military official and the other of a civil official, from the tomb of Zhang Shigui in Liquan county, now in the Zhaoling Museum, with related brilliant painted decoration, as well as very finely penciled details on the face, published in The Cream of Xianyang Relics, Beijing, 2002, pl. 98 and 99. See also a magnificent pair of painted lokapala figures sold in these rooms, 22/23rd September 2004, lot 152; and another related pair sold at Christie's New York, 20th March 1997, lot 52.

Sotheby's. Chinese Works of Art. 17 Mar 09.New York www.sothebys.com Photo courtesy Sotheby's