Lot 105. A Rare Ming Sancai-Glazed Pottery Figure of a Demon, Ming Dynasty. Estimate 5,000-7,000 USD. Lot sold 6,000 USD. Photo: Sothebys.

the vigorously modeled immortal standing  on a square base  cradling a  fruit in his arms, wearing a loosely tied amber yellow dhoti  falling unevenly over his soft cream colored shoes, and a rust and amber splashed shawl on his shoulders , the chest left bare, the face with strong features set in a forbidding expression, the brows knitted beneath two knobby horns, the long hair swept back and over the shoulders, the face, hair and body glazed a bright pea green; Height 21 in., 53.3 cm

Provenance: The John W. Gruber Collection.
Christie's New York 19th December 2000, lot 110.

Note: While it is common to find ridge tiles in the form of demons with green and yellow glaze, it is rare to find an example of a free standing figure. See a ridge tile with this type of demon glazed green and wearing yellow dhoti illustrated by Jessica Harrison-Hall, Ming Ceramics in the British Museum, no. 18:29.