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Group of sancai ceramic tomb figures
From northern China, probably Henan
province
Tang dynasty, early 8th century AD
From the tomb of Liu Tingxun, an important
official
About one metre high, these are among the tallest known burial
figures from the Tang dynasty (AD 618-906). The group comprises two
fabulous beasts (one with a human face), two fierce
lokapala, guardian figures usually seen at the entrance to
temples, and in the centre, two officials, one military, one civil.
The military official has armour over his green robe and a bird of
prey on his hat.
Figures of horses, camels and grooms from the same tomb group
are also on display in The British Museum. They are reputed to be
from the tomb of Liu Tingxun, an important military commander who
died in AD 728. The memorial tablet found with these figures
records his skill in military matters and the arts of
statesmanship, and that he died at the age of seventy-two.
It is interesting that all the human heads are unglazed,
including that of the fabulous beast, as are the flaming manes of
both animals. Otherwise, the figures are completely covered with
lead sancai (three-colour) glaze.
S.J. Vainker, Chinese pottery and porcelain, (London, The British Museum Press, 1991)