A painted pottery model of a Bactrian camel and riderTang DynastySuperbly modelled with a foreign rider sitting on top of a recumbent Bactrian camel, the rider perched forward and leaning slightly to the left with its right arm clasping the camel's hump, the wide lapels of his fur-lined jacket thrown open, the face with inquisitive expression as if looking in the far distance, the camel with bulging eyes and flared nostrils gazing into the same direction as the rider, the body painted in ochre and red pigments, with orange detail to the nose and black to the eyes, the saddle cloth decorated with sylised floral patterns in red, green and black. 48cm (19in) long. 注脚唐 騎駝胡人俑Provenance: Ben Janssens Oriental Art Ltd., London, 6 July 2001John J. Studzinski, CBE 來源：英國倫敦古董商，Ben Janssens Oriental Art Ltd.，2001年7月6日大英帝國司令勳章受勳者John J. Studzinski珍藏The result of Oxford Authentication Ltd. thermoluminescence test no. C101g22, dated 5 April 2001, is consistent with the dating of this lot.Oxford Authentication Ltd公司熱釋光檢測結果（2001年4月5日，編號C101g22）顯示年代與本拍品年代一致。Recumbent camels with non-Chinese riders are rare and the animated pose of the rider, his expression and the texture of his sheep-skin coat have been masterfully rendered. From the 6th century and throughout the entire Tang dynasty, the Bactrian camel frequently appears among the tomb figures of China. The camel was an essential means of transporting merchants and merchandise along the Silk Road into China. It was imported from the areas of the Tarim Basin, eastern Turkestan and Mongolia. This species was highly regarded by the Tang emperors who established dedicated offices to oversees the imperial camel herd. Referred to as the ships of the desert, camels endured hot temperatures and were the essential method of transport for merchants wishing to conduct trade with the oasis cities of Central Asia, such as Samarkand, Bukhara and Isfahan, along the trading routes of the Silk Road.Vast riches poured into the Tang capital, Chang'an, from the Silk Road. Merchants came from far afield to acquire silk, bamboo and lacquer wares, and imported perfumes, horse and jewels. Through most of the Tang dynasty, the capital cities of Chang'an and Luoyang were cosmopolitan centres, where men and women of different races and religions coexisted in relative freedom. The all embracing attitude adopted by Tang dynasty Taizong emperor, facilitated the cultural exchanges between the Han Chinese and the foreigners. Travellers included Songdians, Turks, Uighurs, Arabs, Mongols, Persians and Indians. For reference see E.Schafer, The Golden Peaches of Samarkand: A Study of Tang Exotics, Berkeley, 1963, pp.7-40. See also E.R. Krauer, The Camel's Load In Life & Death, Cambridge, 1998, pp.50-120. A related recumbent camel with a foreign rider is illustrated in Shaanxi Provincial Museum, Xi'an, 1983, pl.58; another recumbent camel with a Persian rider is illustrated in the Handbook, for the Nelson Gallery of Art- Atkins Museum, vol.II, Kansas City, 1973, p.82.