A Painted Pottery Figure of an Earth Spirit, Zhenmushou TANG DYNASTY (618-709) 唐 陶加彩鎮墓獸 the figure depicted with a broad chest behind which issue flame-like tendril spikes beneath the horned head. The face modeled and painted with exaggerated eyes and wide flaring nostrils. The guardian crouched above a boar-like beast with pointed ears and a rotund belly, all above a ribbed rocky base. Height 22 1/2 in., 57.2 cm. The result of Oxford Authentication thermoluminescence test no. C108w56 is consistent with the dating of this lot.