East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. An amazing pair of massive, hollow clay bricks from a Han tomb. Before they were fired, artisans stamped these bricks with the artwork you see here: decorative diamond-shaped borders on the long edges and repeated phoenixes and horses. Each phoenix has a long tail and pointed wings that resemble lightning strikes; the bird's crested head is turned back as if looking over its shoulder and it stands on delicate feet. The interior of the birds' bodies feature curved lines that form auspicious shapes. The horses, meanwhile, have rounded bodies with large back haunches, thick necks, and heads proudly raised; they are posed as if prancing, and have bridles to indicate that they belong to someone rather than running free. Size of one (they are nearly identical in size): 5.5" L x 18.2" W x 54.3" H (14 cm x 46.2 cm x 137.9 cm) These bricks, each over four feet tall, were made to construct the rectangular chambers of a traditional Han tomb, which would have been dug into the ground and divided into different rooms. Doors and a lintel would also have been featured, completing the tomb, which would have contained a coffin atop a stone "couch" and numerous grave goods befitting the status of the person interred. Both animals stamped on these bricks had deep meaning for the ancient Chinese. In Chinese legend, the phoenix is the most beautiful of all birds, called the feng huang, and the etymology of the name is derived from "emperor"; the bird also symbolizes the south. Meanwhile, Han period horses came from the Ferghama Valley in Central Asia - present day Afghanistan. When elite individuals passed away, large "walking" terracotta Ferghama horses displaying an immense degree of attention to detail were created to carry the deceased into the hereafter. These horses were believed to possess magical powers. The number of horses owned by an individual ensured his high status in the afterlife. See similar clay bricks from Han tombs at the Chicago Institute of Art (1924.449; 1924.447a-b). 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 Vero Beach, Florida, USA collection, purchased in the 1980s-1990s; ex-old English collection All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #152884