A carved limestone head of a guardianMing DynastyThe face smoothly carved with large bulbous eyes beneath protruding furrowed brows and a cap with mythical-beast head motif at the front, the nose with wide nostrils between full cheeks and above pursed lips, all between long ears, stand. 28.2cm (11 1/8in) high (2).注脚明 石雕天王頭像Provenance: John J. Studzinski, CBE 來源：大英帝國司令勳章受勳者John J. Studzinski珍藏This powerfully sculpted figure may represent a Dvarapala, which were based on Hindu guardians and adopted by Buddhism as fearsome armed the guardians of the four quarters of the world. Depictions of these figures appear throughout the Dunhuang caves, where they are often dressed in Sui and Tang style armor. Compare with a related but larger iron head of a guardian, Yuan dynasty, in the British Museum, London, acc.no.1960.0729.1.