Ca. 500 AD. A terracotta tomb guardian, Zhenmushou, depicts a fierce beast seated atop a rectangular base, its bulging eyes and open mouth conveying an aura of ferocity. The three flames protruding from its back further emphasize its supernatural power. Zhenmushou served a crucial function in Chinese funerary practices, serving as a guardian to protect the deceased from malevolent spirits and evil influences. It was believed that the statue's fearsome appearance would deter any malevolent forces seeking to harm the deceased. For a similar example, see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 1979.438. This piece has been precisely dated by means of a Thermo Luminescence analysis carried out 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. The TL certificate with its full report will accompany this lot.Size: L:400mm / W:290mm ; 2.86kgProvenance: From the private collection of a Somerset gentleman; previously in an old British collection, formed before 2000 on the UK /European art markets.