Tang Dynasty, 618-906 AD. A ceramic figure formed as a victorious guardian standing on the back of a struggling grotesque figure on an integral hollow plinth; the guard's arms and fists indicate a weapon-carrying stance, and he wears a helmet and armour plating which terminates with dragon-heads at the arms; the terrified figure beneath him is an animal-human hybrid, with large ears, protrusions on the forehead and animal's paws; red, black, green and blue painted pigmentation survives. See Prodan, M., The Art of The Tang Potter, Thames & Hudson, 1960, fig.40, for a comparable example and discussion. 29.6 kg, 1.04m (41"). From the deceased estate of an important Japanese art collector; the collection formed 1960-2010; accompanied by a copy of a positive thermoluminescence report issued by Laboratory Kotalla; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10170-166758. [a video of this item will be available on Timeline Auctions website.]