Tomb guardian. China, Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.)

Tomb guardian. China, Tang dynasty (618-907 A.D.)
Glazed ceramic.
Provenance: Private collection, Namur, Belgium.
It retains original glaze on most of the surface. No visible restorations.
It has slight losses in the most salient elements, consistent with its age.

Imposing figure of a funerary guardian belonging to the sculptural repertoire of the Tang dynasty, characterized by its expressiveness and rich color. These figures, known as zhenmushou, were deposited in the tombs with apotropaic function, intended to protect the deceased and ward off evil spirits in transit to the afterlife.

The creature combines animal and demonic features: a robust body in a frontal position, claws and a ferocious face with open jaws. From its head emerge prominent horns and flaming appendages, elements that accentuate its supernatural nature. This type of iconography reflects the complex Tang cosmology, where the earthly and the spiritual are intertwined.

The piece is made of ceramic with sancai glaze, an emblematic technique of the period, which combines green, ocher, yellow and blue tones with plumbic glazes of great visual richness. The finish presents draining effects and chromatic variations that bring dynamism and uniqueness to each piece.

Due to its size, formal power and quality of the glaze, it is a representative example of Tang funerary sculpture, highly appreciated in international collecting.