HAN DYNASTY, SOUTHWEST CHINA, CIRCA 1ST CENTURY BC/1ST CENTURY AD

This rare figure, with its coiled S-scroll curls, specific facial features and kneeling position, is related to the few other figures of this type that have been published, including one originally in the collections of Paul Huo, Beijing, Osvald Sirén, D. David-Weill, and Arthur M. Sackler, subsequently sold at Christie's New York, 14-15 September 2009, lot 24. (Fig. 1) That figure, which also had a water dropper, was reputed to be from Than Hoa, Vietnam. Two other related figures, identified as supports, were also sold at Christie's New York, one from the Sze Yuan Tang Collection, 16 September 2010, lot 877, the other 17 September 2008, lot 367. The Sze Yuan Tang Collection figure was described by Li Xueqin in The Glorious Traditions of Chinese Bronzes, Singapore, 2000, no. 99, as depicting a Central Asian or hu (barbarian).