C. 206 BC - 220 AD. Han dynasty. Amazing Terracotta Figure of a Qilin . The figure is depicted crawling with his head raised and mouth open as if in a roar. Looped tail, nicely detailed claws on each leg. The animal has white pelt and coral-pink pigmentation to the face and in the inner ears. The eyes are of striking blue colour. The qilin is a mythical animal that is associated with good luck, and peace (worldly and inner peace). When a qilin was seen, it was thought that a great ruler or scholar were born at that given moment. It is normally represented with the body of a dragon, the body of a tiger or a deer, and an ox's tail in many cases. The qilin is on certain representations covered with scales like a fish; and sometimes, it has flames over its body. In tales, it can also spout flames from its mouth to incinerate evil people.It is generally a peaceful creature, however. In fact, when it walks it steps so lightly that it doesn't even bend down the grass. It can also walk across the water, walking on or hovering on the surface of the water. It is said that a qilin was seen before the birth of Confusius. The qilin is one of the four noble animals, along with the dragon, the phoenix, and the tortoise according people living in South East Asia. A qilin is said to live for 2000 years and can bring babies to deserving parents; just alike the storks in Europe do. This piece has been precisely dated having undergone Thermo Luminescence analysis by Ralf Kotalla, an independent German Laboratory. The samples collected date the piece to the period reflected in its style, whilst also showing no modern trace elements. Its TL certificate with full report will also accompany this lot.Provenance: Private London collection of Asian Art; formerly in an old British collection. Acquired in Hong Kong in the early 1990s. Size: L:320mm / W:660mm ; 8.9kg