20th century AD. An exceptionally large Bactrian terracotta camel standing on a rectangular plinth, with long extended neck and head held up in a triumphant bray, open mouth exposing the teeth, wearing large saddle bags shaped as monstrous heads; traces of pigment remaining. Cf. The Empress Place, The Silk road, Treasures of Tang China, Singapore, 1991, figs.26, 27, 81. 20.2 kg, 88cm (32 1/2"). Property of a Kensington lady; acquired USA in 2018, from a private North American collection. The camel, like most of the terracotta figures produced during the Imperial Tang period, was part of the funerary kit. The elite of the Tang Empire had their graves filled with pottery figures, destined to serve them in the afterlife. Some figures were glazed, but this one was painted in bright colours. As noted by the Tang specialist Camille de Foresta 'Noble and imperial members of society would have clay models made of all the attendants they needed to make their soul comfortable in the spirit world, such as soldiers, musicians, courtesans, slaves, wine merchants and even polo players — as well as camels....These objects are known as mingqi, which means ‘vessels for ghosts’'. The colours employed – red, orange, brown and black – were not casually selected by craftsmen, but aimed to reproduce the original colours of the camel and his harness.