A RARE SANCAI-GLAZED POTTERY FIGURE OF A RAM, TANG DYNASTY
China, 618-907. Well potted as a recumbent ram in an alert position with the legs tucked in and the horned head looking straight ahead. The tail is designed in the shape of a peach, a symbol of longevity. Covered overall with a mottled glaze of amber, green, and ochre tones.

Provenance: Collection of Jean Jardine Johnstone Keswick, thence by descent within the same family. Jean Keswick (1885-1977) lived in Hong Kong during the late 19th century. She was part of the Keswick family, a business dynasty of Scottish origin associated with the Far East region since 1855, and in particular the conglomerate Jardine Matheson. She was the daughter of James Johnstone Keswick (1845-1914), who had resided in Japan, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. During his residence in China, James Keswick was one of the best known figures in the foreign community, in which he was nicknamed 'James the bloody polite'.
Condition: Excellent condition, commensurate with age. Some wear, minor chips to base, minute losses and glaze flakes.

Weight: 249 g (excl. stand)
Dimensions: Length 12 cm, Height 7.6 cm (excl. stand) and 10 cm (incl. stand)

With a fitted wood base dating to the later Qing dynasty. (2)

The ram (yang) was a highly important animal in ancient China, particularly to the nomads to whom it provided wool and meat. It is also one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Its homophone 'yang' is auspicious, referring to both the sun and the masculine or positive principle in nature, hence the ram came to represent both meanings. Furthermore, three rams are an auspicious Chinese symbol of happiness and good fortune. They provide a rebus for san yang kai tai, prosperity in springtime.

Expert's note: The tail is distinctively designed in the shape of a peach, the main symbol of longevity in ancient China. The ability to 'hide' auspicious symbols and meanings in skillfully executed depictions of Zodiac animals is one of the most accomplished regalia of Chinese art and culture overall, which has been passed on from generation to generation, literally across several millennia.

Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related sancai figure of a ram, 7.2 cm high, also dated to the Tang dynasty, at Christie's London in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 5 November 2019, lot 21, sold for GBP 7,500.

唐代罕見三彩臥羊
中國，618-907年。一隻臥羊，四腿曲於身下，眼睛直視前方。 尾巴如桃子形，象徵長壽。整體覆蓋著琥珀色、綠色和赭色三彩釉。

來源：Jean Jardine Johnstone Keswick收藏，保存在同一家族至今。Jean Keswick (1885-1977) 曾在十九世紀末生活在香港。她是 Keswick 家族的一員，來自蘇格蘭，該家族自 1855 年在遠東地區的建立了商業王朝，尤其是Jardine Matheson。 她是James Johnstone Keswick (1845-1914)的女兒，曾居住在日本、上海和香港。在中國居住期間，James Keswick 是外國社區中最知名的人物之一，他被暱稱為“該死的有禮貌的詹姆斯”。
品相：狀況極佳，與年齡相稱。 一些磨損，底部輕微碎屑、微小的缺損和釉片剝落。

重量：249克（不含底座）
尺寸：長12厘米，高7.6厘米（不含底座），總高10厘米（含底座）

清代木質底座。(2)

拍賣結果比較：比較一件唐代三彩羊，高 7.2 釐米，見倫敦佳士得 Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 2019年11月5日 lot 21, 售價GBP 7,500。