Tang Dynasty, 618-907 AD. A ceramic Bactrian camel shown kneeling on an integral rhomboidal base, hindlegs in standing position, tail erect, forelegs tucked beneath body, neck resting at ground level with head held aloft, head turned slightly to the left, luggage contained in panniers on its back, detailing to head, face, mane, body, legs, feet and baggage, with painted pigmentation surviving; accompanied by a custom-made display stand.See Prodan, M., The Tang Potter, London, 1960, for comparable ceramic camels; see a comparable Tang camel excavated from a tomb in 1957 from the tomb of Xianyu Tinghui, general of Yunhui, held in the National Museum of China, Beijing.8.2 kg total, 37cm long including base (14 1/2"). Property of a Kensington lady; acquired on the London art market in the 2000s; accompanied by a positive thermoluminescence report no.04CM180321 issued by Laboratory Kotalla; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no. 10644-173452.Bactrian camels were a popular mode of transportation in Ancient China, where they were put to service carrying goods along the Silk Road. Terracotta statuettes of camels are usually stacked with bolts of silk, the principal commodity exported by China. A video of this lot is available to view at TimeLine Auctions website.

Finely modelled, repaired and saddle chipped.