51. CHAMEAU EN TERRE CUITE Dynastie des Wei du Nord (386-534 ap. J.-C.) A PAINTED POTTERY FIGURE OF A BACTRIAN CAMEL Northern Wei dynasty Standing firmly four-square on a rectangular base, its head looking forward, with gaping nostrils, lips bared and wide eyes, carrying wooden slats on each side of his heavy body, supporting a saddle over its two humps, traces of pigments. 24cm (9 1/2in) high. THE PROPERTY OF A DISTINGUISHED FRENCH FAMILY 法國顯赫家族藏品 北魏 彩繪陶駱駝 Provenance: Acquired in Paris by the grandfather of the present owners before 1935, and thence by descent 來源: 現任藏家祖父於1935年前於巴黎獲得，並由後人保存迄今 Camels arrived in China in the Han period. With the expansion of the empire to the North and West during the Tang dynasty, and the arrival of foreign traders and tribute bearers from Central Asia, camels were quickly adopted and used to carry heavy goods along vast distances. A very similar sleek model of a Bactrian camel, acquired from Yamanaka & Co. in 1928 by the Metropolitan Museum in New York (acc.no.1928.121), shares similar plain, rounded features with the present Bactrian camel.