161. RARE STATUETTE DE LION EN GRÈS 'CHANGSHA' Dynastie Tang A RARE 'CHANGSHA' GLAZED POTTERY FIGURE OF A SEATED LION Tang Dynasty Seated on its haunches on a rectangular base, with lean front legs supporting a muscular chest, the stocky body terminating in a powerful head, with mouth wide open exposing strong fangs, with bulging eyes and pricked ears, covered entirely with a creamy greenish glaze suffused with crackles, the base unglazed. 17.2cm (6 3/4in) high. 唐 長沙窰青釉坐獅 Provenance: Formerly in a German collection, acquired in Hong Kong in the 1970s (by repute) Nagel, Stuttgart, 15 May 1998, lot 1918 來源： 德國私人舊藏，於1970年代得自香港（傳） 納高拍賣行，斯圖加特，1998年5月15日，編號1918 The present Changsha ware lion figure with iron-spot appears to be very rare. See a a related iron-spot decorated celadon guardian figure excavated in Xianjiahu, Changsha, Hunan, attributed to the Yuezhou kilns in Hunan, and dated to the Tang dynasty, illustrated in Zhongguo chutu ciqi quanji, vol.13, Beijing, 2008, p.184.