Antikes China, Song-Dynastie Terracotta Figur - 23 cm

Chinese Relief Brick with Dragon – Song Dynasty – 8th to 11th Century AD

A finely molded architectural terracotta brick depicting a dragon in high relief, executed with remarkable attention to decorative detail. The mythical creature is portrayed with a robust feline-like body, curled mane, scaled hide, and flowing tail, all rendered in a style characteristic of medieval Chinese architectural ornamentation. Dragons held profound symbolic importance in Chinese culture, representing power, protection, prosperity, and celestial authority.

The relief remains well preserved, with substantial detail visible throughout the scales, mane, claws, and tail. The brick displays an attractive archaeological surface with expected weathering, minor losses, and encrustations accumulated over centuries. Such decorative bricks were commonly incorporated into temples, elite residences, and ceremonial structures, where they served both architectural and symbolic functions.

Material: Terracotta
Dimensions: 23 cm
Weight: 2.28kg

Provenance:
Danish private collection, acquired in Denmark in the 1990s.

All items come with CoA


Catawiki disclaimer: This object has been dated based on style by the seller . No further tests, such as, a TL test, lapidary tests, analysis of pigments or radiography scans have been conducted to check the integrity of the piece.