12. A green-glazed pottery lamp-stand in the form of a bear

The lamp has a splayed conical base supporting a circular platform on which kneels a figure of a bear with its forepaws resting on its knees.  The stylized creature has a long snout, deeply scored with lines suggesting fur, tear-shaped eyes, and large tab-shaped ears.  On its head it supports a knopped column and a dish-shaped drip-pan.  The overall glaze is of good dark green colour with some light iridescence.  The underside of the base, with three small prism-shaped supports, is unglazed showing the pale orange ware.

Provenance:
Priestley & Ferraro, 'Animals for the Afterlife', November 2002, no.7

A related, though larger, bear lamp is illustrated by J.J. Lally, ‘Ancient China, Jades, Bronzes and Ceramics’, 1999, catalogue no. 36.

The great strength of the bear made him a natural candidate for use as an atlantid in a number of roles, most usually as a foot for a vessel.  Here he sits in the middle of the lamp, but his role is the same.

綠釉陶熊燈

Dimensions: Height: 32cm, 12 ½ inches

Date: Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Price: SOLD