Ancient Chinese Terracotta Pair of dignitary bricks - 44.5×13×20 cm - (2)

CHINA - NORTHERN SONG (960-1127) Terracotta brick with traces of green polychromy representing a merchant dignitary holding a bowl in the right hand and a hand fan in the left hand. During the Song period, in the North of China, the dry and rigorous climate implied that constructions had to be made in bricks, a material more resistant to the ravages of time than wood. However, the idea of decorating houses was not abandoned: some of their bricks were carved for aesthetic purposes. They could take many forms: plant ornamentations as well as human representations: foliated volutes, musicians, dancers, children came to contrast with the architectural austerity. The same attention was paid to the last dwellings of the living, to pay tribute to the dead. Size including the stands: 44. 5x13x20 45x13x20 Size without the stands: 36x7x17. 5 36. 5x7. 5x18 Datation 10th century - Circa 950. Provenance Belgian family collection, acquired before 1976. Art market. Reference: Similar bricks can be seen in the Compendium of Collections at the Palace Museum. Sculpture. 5. Stone and Brick Carvings, 2009, No. 165 to 171. Piece from a set of 13 bricks selected for the panel of experts, on display in room 9 in December 2016. Put on sale on December 13, 2016 in room 15 by Auction. Art Rémy Le Fur & Associés. Approved by the Portier & Associés appraisal office. Scientific analysis. No test is necessary for this piece since one brick of the set has been tested by Oxford, the expert committee, and the appraisal office Portier & Associés who all approved all of the 13 pieces. Shipping: For Belgium the piece will be hand-delivered by the seller. For other countries, Fedex shipping. ! ! ! Important! ! ! When the item requires it, a wooden/MDF box will be made involving a delay of 5 to 7 working days before shipment. The fixed shipping costs apply on an item basis, that is if a buyer acquires several items, he will have to pay the cost indicated for each item depending on the country of origin, and in no way pay only once. Shipping with tracking, transportation insurance set according to the amount of the sale excluding Catawiki buyer and seller fees. The seller guarantees that he acquired this piece in a legal manner. Documentation proving this provenance has been seen by Catawiki. Important information. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. The seller will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged. The authenticity of the item is unconditionally guaranteed.