A Painted Pottery Earth Spirit

TANG DYNASTY (618-907) Earth Spirit figures or zhenmushou (grave-quelling beasts) are tomb figures created to represent fantastical animal guardians for the elite deceased. This tradition began during the Northern Wei dynasty (386 - 534 CE) and continued into the Tang dynasty. These guardians were created in the form of hybrid creatures composed of various animal and sometimes human elements and placed in tombs to ward off evil beings who threatened to disturb the deceased. This particular Earth Spirit figure was modeled with terracotta, its body painted with various colored slips. It displays human facial features and sits like an alert dog on four hoofed feet, with the powerful body of a lion. It has flame-like wings protruding from the shoulders with large focused eyes, short nose and full lips, and with large flaring elephant-like ears and a flame-like painted horn rising from its forehead. Terracotta with painted pigments 34 in. (86.36 cm.) Oxford Authentication Thermolumiescence test no. C113j13 is consistent with the dating of this lot. PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST