An impressive pair of large painted pottery "Earth Spirits" 镇墓兽一对 Tang dynasty 唐 Powerfully modeled, depicted seated on their haunches, each with six curved spikes radiating from their shoulders, curved tails; all on a pierced "rockwork" base, one with mouth open in a fierce grimace, a pair of pointed ears centered by a pair of slender curved horns and a central spike, flame-form ridge along spine and back of head; the other with wide ears, two tufts of hair centered by a spiral horn, retaining traces of pigments and one with traces of gilding. According to the Christie's 2001 cataloguing, the results of Oxford thermoluminescence test no. 766j46 were consistent with the dating of this lot. (H: 44 1/2 in.; 43 1/4 in.)Qty: (2)PROVENANCE: Sold Christie's, New York, September 21, 22, 1995, lot 595The property of a Private Collector, sold at Christie's New York, March 19, 2001, lot 182Acquired from the above by the present owner, Property from an important Pennsylvania private collection. Footnote: NOTE: The present figures are notable for their extremely large scale, dramatic muscular modeling and boldly-radiating "horned" shoulders. For a smaller pair (26" and 23 1/4" high), less dramatically modelled, see the two figures sold at Christie's, New York, September 19, 2002, lot 261.