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10. Green Glazed Foreign Merchants And Camels Sold China Sui Dynasty (581-618) Glazed Earthenware Camel with Ferret - Height: 14 inches (36 cm) |
The larger camel strides forward, a monkey perched on its saddle offers a peach to a ferret, another monkey scampers up the side. A flask and a brace of geese are secured to the bulging saddlebags that rest on either side of the packboards. The smaller camel carries a foreign rider who wears thick robes and a close fitting helmet. In front of him a monkey sits atop the camel’s forward hump. Both camels have upraised attenuated heads, with boldly incised and applied features, the ruffs around the legs are vigorously hand carved and their short tails raised. The camels are guided by two standing merchants, one with a pair of tusks strapped onto his back with a whip in one hand while the other stands with his hands at his sides. They are well-modeled with distinctive facial features and protruding bellies. Their full beards, large round eyes, thick robes and caps relate their Central Asian origins. |