Chinese Han Dynasty Terracotta Ram - TL Tested

East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A handsome ceramic ram, seated with his legs folded underneath him, his hooves and limb musculature well depicted in relief on the sides of his body. The ram has powerful haunches and a large head with magnificent curved horns, a strong snout, and a slightly open mouth. In the Han Dynasty and beyond, the ram was symbolic of luck; indeed, the word for "ram" in Chinese is similar to the one for "auspicious". Kneeling/crouching rams made from a variety of materials have been found in high status Han tombs - see two examples at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: 2015.500.1.68 as well as one on loan from the Xi'an Museum. Size: 7.5" W x 4.7" H (19 cm x 11.9 cm)

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.

Provenance: ex-private Micklautz collection, Hawaii, USA, collected from 1940 to 1998

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#151848
Condition Report: Professionally repaired and restored from two pieces; small areas of visible adhesive on underside. Rich deposits on surface. Form is in great condition. Two TL drill holes, one on underside and one on the back of the horn.