Lot 78B
East Asia, Japan, Kofun Period, ca. 300 to 538 CE. A fascinating bird haniwa figure, handbuilt and modeled from pink terracotta. The buffware bird presents a plump body with a lovely avian head presenting impressed eyes and a curved beak as well as a fanned tail with incised feathers. There are firing holes at the front and rear ends of the bird, and it sits upon a custom, molded lucite display stand. This type of figure is known as "haniwa", meaning "clay cylinder" or "circle of clay" in Japanese. Although haniwa were oftentimes stylized types, this graceful birdie most definitely displays some personal touches on the part of the artist. Size: 9.75" L x 5.375" W x 9.375" H (24.8 cm x 13.7 cm x 23.8 cm); 10.75" H (27.3 cm) on included custom stand.
Haniwa are large, hollow, earthenware funerary objects, which were placed atop large mounded tombs known as "kofun", which means "old tomb". These tombs are such a hallmark of this prehistoric time period that it takes its name from them. This bird is the type of funerary good made to be seen - they were placed to mark the open surfaces of the huge tombs, which were denuded of trees, covered with gravel arranged in artistic designs, and surrounded by moats. Haniwa like this bird were made by hand (rather than cast).
This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.
Provenance: private J.H. collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA, acquired in February 2018; ex-Arte Primitivo auction, New York, New York, USA (February 26, 2018, lot 221); ex-Maurice Shapiro collection, New York, New York, USA, acquired in the 1960s to 1970s, thence inherited by his sister via descent
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#151909
- Condition: Reassembled from approximately six large original pieces with restoration over break lines. There is some restoration to the head and tail. Losses to the peripheries of the tail, base, and high-pointed areas as shown. The surface is crazed and has a porous texture as shown. Overall, very nice form and quite rare. TL holes at bottom and back.
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