7. RARE LARGE POTTERY FIGURE OF A TURTLE
Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD)
26 1/2" (67.3cm.) long

The raised head of the turtle issues from a dramatically rounded carapace of nearly hemispherical shape with slightly abstract irregular shaped incised markings. The head and feet are more naturalistically rendered. The buff-coloured clay has several areas of aged adhesions. The underside of the animal is hollow. The edges of the carapace undulate and curve outwards. There are apertures by the feet to facilitate air flow during the firing.

This is a particularly successful and exceptional sized model of the turtle which became an auspicious symbol of longevity and immutable values early on in ancient China. It became a symbol of integrity during the Han period, when they were widely used as finials on Imperial and official seals in gold and jade. They are also found in the form of stone or pottery inkstones. A rare free standing pottery model of the animal is illustrated in Recarving China’s Past: Art, Archaeology and Architecture of the “Wu Family Shrine”, Princeton University Art Museum, 2005, exhibition catalogue. no. 42. See ibid., no. 54 for a stoneware inkslab dated to the Eastern Han (25-220) period. The tortoise or turtle was also widely used as architectural supports for pillars or steles carved with Imperial Edicts.

From at least the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC- AD 8), the turtle or tortoise had been one of the Animals of the Four Directions, representing the North. Tortoise shell had been used in divination as early as the Shang Dynasty (Ca. 1600-1100 BC), and later as a symbol of rank when used as adornment for girdles on Court dress. As the animal of the North, it is usually seen with a snake – the belief was that result of their union was the universe. Its domed carapace was thought to represent Heaven and its underside, Earth. For these reasons the reptile was used as a cosmological symbol. For the history of these symbols, see Derek Walters, An Encyclopedia of Myth and Legend: Chinese Mythology and Donald A. Mackenzie, Myths of China and Japan.