Lot 333
**Originally Listed At $300**
East Asia, China, Song to Yuan Dynasty, ca. 960 to 1368 CE. Unearthed from the Song or Yuan Dynasty, this poignant pottery relief tile likely served as a tender memorial, depicting a woman gracefully ascending to the heavens on swirling clouds ("yun" or "xiangyun"), observed by an official in his distinctive hat, hands raised in reverence. Beyond this narrative of likely commemorating a departed wife or mother, the tile resonates with symbolic depth; the cloud form not only represents the celestial realm but also visually echoes "fuyun," a wish for good fortune, while its resemblance to the "lingzhi," the fungus of immortality, further symbolizes longevity and the hope for an afterlife where all desires are fulfilled. Size: 8.1" L x 1.2" W x 6.5" H (20.6 cm x 3 cm x 16.5 cm)
Crafted in high relief, the figures and flowing clouds are rendered with a captivating simplicity, their raised forms adding a tactile dimension to this ancient expression of love, loss, and enduring hope for celestial bliss, with two faded Chinese characters nestled between them hinting at further, now obscured meaning. While precise dating remains elusive, similar pottery tiles suggest origins in either the Song (960-1279 CE) or Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368).
From the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) onward, funerary tiles served to embellish tombs, with significant examples featuring elaborate wall reliefs. These depicted a rich tapestry of ancient Chinese life, encompassing scenes of daily activities and entertainment alongside divination practices, mythological and supernatural beings, folklore, swirling cloud patterns, and narratives drawn from history, literature, and poetry. Notably, a rubbing from a stone tomb relief in Henan province, documented in Stories from Chinas Past as Ascending to Heaven in Deer Chariot, exemplifies this tradition. Beyond purely decorative tiles showcasing diverse subjects, detailed panels in both high and low relief were strategically placed at tomb and vault entrances. This practice of creating funerary tiles persisted through successive Chinese dynasties, sometimes evolving into smaller-scale homage scenes to the deceased, a contrast to the grand, intricately carved stone slabs found in offering shrines like those dedicated to Wu Liang Tzu in present-day Shandong province during the mid-2nd century CE Han Dynasty, as detailed in Adventures in Retrieval.
Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection, acquired from 1990 - 2005
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#192473
- Condition: Some chips, nicks, abrasions and some minor, stable fissures as shown, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with nice remaining detail and liberal earthen deposits in areas.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |