A pottery owl-form jar and cover
Han DynastyThe jar well modelled in the form of a plump rounded owl, resting on two short feet and its extending tail as a third support, the wings tucked in at the sides, the plumage delineated with fine incisions and herringbone markings for the wings, the head forming the cover, of conical form, with ring shaped eyes set on each side.13.5cm (5.1/4in) high. (2).
注脚
The Professor Conrad Harris Collection of Early Chinese Art, formed in the late 1990's to early 2000's.Provenance: Priestley & Ferraro, 25 March 2004 (invoice), label.The owl in Chinese culture appears to have been an auspicious bird in the very earliest times. Jade owls, for example, have been found at Hongshan culture sites, while from the Shang, a number of owl-shaped bronzes are known, like that found in the tomb of the Lady Fu Hao. The owl continued to feature in literature and art, usually with mysterious powers.