Tang Dynasty, 618-906 AD. A ceramic figure modelled standing on a crescent-shaped base; the guard wears an aggressive facial expression- his eyebrows are raised, eyes wide open, nostrils flared and teeth bared; he wears a domed helmet with spike and lateral flaps, pauldrons, segmented cuirass and skirt; right hand placed on the hip and left hand extended to grip a spear or pole-arm; black, red and yellow pigmentation survives. 7.5 kg, 68.5cm (27"). From a west country collection in the 1990s; previously in a Hong Kong collection; accompanied by a copy of a thermoluminescence test report issued by Laboratory Kotalla of Germany, report number 40CM110520.