China, 618-907. The leonine beast seated on its haunches atop a plinth, facing forward with the mouth wide open in a ferocious roar, the fierce expression further marked by large bulging eyes, the head framed by a neatly incised mane and surmounted by two long curved horns.

Provenance: The collection of Dr. Wou Kiuan. Wou Lien-Pai Museum, coll. no. T.3.31. Dr. Wou Kiuan (1910-1997) was a Chinese diplomat and noted scholar of Chinese art. His father, Wou Lien-Pai (1873-1944), was one the leading political figures of early 20th century China, remembered for his role as speaker and leader of parliament during the turbulent years of the Republican era. Dr. Wou himself embarked on an illustrious career in diplomacy until his retirement in 1952, when he settled in London and devoted the rest of his life to the study of Chinese art. It was without doubt fortuitous that Dr. Wou's years of collecting coincided with an abundant availability of exceptional Chinese art on the London market. From the mid-1950s to the late 1960s he was able to form a collection of well over 1,000 works that together represented virtually every category of Chinese art. At the heart of Dr. Wou's drive to collect was a burning desire to preserve the relics of China's rich historical past scattered across Europe, and to promote Chinese art and culture. It is unclear when Dr. Wou conceived the idea to create a place to house his collection, but in 1968, he opened the doors to the Wou Lien-Pai Museum, named in honor of his father. Over the years, the museum became a 'must see' destination for collectors, academics, and visiting dignitaries, and Dr. Wou would delight in leading his visitors through the galleries, recounting stories of China's glorious history.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, remnants of pigment, losses, old repairs, minor touchups, nicks, chips, scratches.

Weight: 887 g
Dimensions: Height 31.3 cm

Although the identification and iconography of these guardian creatures remains a source of debate, Tang burial regulations mention a group of four spirits with names given to two hybrid beasts, zuming (Ancestral Intelligence) and dizhu (Earth Axis). Other possible namings include qitou (Ugly Head), that appears in earlier Zhou and Han period texts, and tugui (Earth Spirit).

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related pottery tomb guardian unearthed in 1986 from a Tang tomb in Kangdian, Gongyi, Zhengzhou, Henan province, and now in the Henan Museum, Zhengzhou. Compare a closely related pottery tomb guardian unearthed in 1978 from a Tang tomb in Liuzhang, Potou, Jiyuan, Henan province, and now in the Jiyuan Museum.