Sancai glazed ware "Bactrian camel", Tang dynasty (618 - 906)

A ceramic figure modelled in kaolin ware and decorated in amber, green and cream-coloured 'sancai' glaze (三彩). The body of the animal is hollow and has an opening in the lower part of the belly.

It depicts a Bactrian camel standing on a rectangular pedestal, with its neck bent and its head raised upwards, slightly tilted to the right. At the same time, it shows its teeth and opens its mouth as if braying. The head and body shape of the camel is well elaborated, as it shows a robust character. The function of these animals was to travel long distances carrying heavy objects, so this is what they tended to look like at the time. The body is almost completely covered with a deep amber glaze that slides down to the base, leaving part of it unglazed. 

On the back there is an oval blanket anchored around the humps, which was used to facilitate the attachment of the saddlebags. The decoration is a harmonious blend of the three colours of the 'sancai' glaze. During the second firing of the piece, the materials that form the glaze slip and mix randomly to form unique decorative patterns. The humps each point in a different direction and are covered in ochre, as is the fur on the head and chest. 

Such figures are called mingqi (shiny objects), which from the Han Dynasty often included animals and servants that were intended to provide service and companionship to the deceased in the afterlife. A similar example of a Bactrian camel is in the 'Yousef Jameel' collection at the Ashmolean Musem with the reference number 'LI1301.410'. 

Height: 56 cm 

It is in an exceptional state of preservation, considering its age. It shows some restorations, while retaining its integrity.

Documentation:

It is accompanied by a report and "Thermoluminescence Test" carried out by the TL Laboratory of the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). Report no.: 10009S, year 2005. The result confirms, from the extraction of material from the piece, compatibility with ceramic materials fired in the Tang dynasty period.

Provenance:

Spanish private collection. 

This important private collection comes from a successful businessman dedicated to national and international construction and investment who lived in different parts of Spain and the South of France. This part of the collection, exhibited exclusively for the first time at auction, focuses on Chinese ceramics from the Tang dynasty and is a collection of museum quality pieces. The family's tradition of travel dates back to the success of an ancestor who in the 1930s travelled to Manila, Shanghai, Cairo, Havana, etc., practising the sport of "cesta punta", and in particular, motivated by an interest in discovering different cultures, which led them to build up a large collection. In general, their interest in art is such that their collection includes pieces of both Asian and European origin.

The acquisition of the collection began in the 1990s and was built up during years of study in Madrid and on various trips to Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Spain and Germany; at reputable antique dealers such as "Arch Angel" in Hong Kong and international auctions such as Nagel. To this end, specialists have also collaborated in the selection, study and verification of the pieces, as can be seen in the accompanying documentation: invoices, studies and reports.

Additional information:

The function of these figures was to protect the tombs and accompany the deceased, and they were endowed with visual qualities for this purpose. The first such figures were seen in the tombs of Li Feng, Prince of Guo (622-675). Large 'sancai' figures of better quality were included in the tombs of royalty and nobility, both in the Chang'an capital of the time and in the city of Luoyang. During the Tang dynasty, Henan province was one of the richest places in the empire.

They are decorated with brightly coloured glazes that can be seen on many pieces from the Tang period, from the 7th century onwards. The type of glaze was called "Sancai" (三彩) because of the use of three low-temperature firing colours. They are coloured by metallic oxides of copper, iron, cobalt and manganese. They are an evolution of the tradition of Han and Wei single-colour ceramics. The material used to make these ceramics is kaolin with fine white texture and glossy glazes, representing the peak of the development of coloured glazed ceramics in China. The result is a magnificent and dazzling artistic effect. An example would be the Luoyang Museum's set of figures "洛陽博物館" and the Shaanxi History Museum's "陕西历史博物馆".

Camels were introduced to China in the Han dynasty as animals captured in military campaigns, diplomatic gifts or trade objects in exchange for silk. In particular, the Bactrian camel was the vehicle for the 'Silk Road', which was booming during the Tang dynasty, due to its high resistance to cold, drought and the pace of a caravan. It is the only creature at the time that could withstand the demands of the journey carrying heavy saddlebags along the major overland trade route of antiquity connecting China with Central Asia, India, Persia, Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Europe and Africa.