Antiques M.S. Rau | Pair Of Tang Dynasty Camels Standing And Sitting

Formed Of Earthenware Pottery With Traces Of Warm Pigments, This Whimsical Pair Of Camels Hails From The Illustrious Tang Dynasty Of China. Reigning For Nearly 300 Years Between The 7Th And 10Th Centuries Ce, The Powerful Tang Rulers Oversaw A Cultural And Artistic “Golden Age” In Chinese Civilization. These Camels, One Resting And One Standing, Are A Form Of Funerary Sculpture Known As Mingqi, And Likely Accompanied A Wealthy Merchant’S Burial. Already Bearing Saddles For The Deceased Owner In The Afterlife, The Camels Are Ready For An Otherworldly Journey.

Tang Dynasty Mingqi Reflect A Harmonious Blend Of Han Chinese Traditions And External Cultural Influences Arriving To China Through The Silk Road. More Than A Facilitator Of Global Commercial Transactions, The Silk Road Served As A Network For Cultural Exchange Between East Asia, Central Asia, The Middle East And Beyond. Along Its Routes, Travelers And Merchants From Disparate Cultures Encountered One Another, Fostering The Exchange Of Ideas, Philosophies, Art Forms And Scientific Knowledge. Mingqi Sculptures Such As These, Which Highlight The Very Animal That Facilitated This Extensive Travel And Trade, Were Intended To Accompany And Serve The Deceased In The Afterlife. They Frequently Depict Guardian Figures And The Pack Animals That Were Essential In The Ever-Expanding World.

Circa 7Th-10Th Century Ce

Standing Camel: 19 3/4“ High X 15 3/4” Wide X 8 5/8“ Deep
Resting Camel: 7 3/4“ High X 6 1/4” Wide X 12 7/8“ Deep