Oriental Ceramic Society exhibition opening at Sotheby’s

One of the works of art appearing at the Oriental Ceramic Society’s exhibition ‘China without Dragons’ that opens at Sotheby’s this week. This Tang sancai figure in official's robes with a horse's head is highly unusual. Though it must have formed part of a set of 12 different animals from the zodiac, no other similar model has yet come to light.

• Roland Arkell
  
• 31 Oct 2016

Some 200 pieces, mostly from China and Japan have been curated by former OCS president Regina Krahl.

The exhibition, China without Dragons which runs from November 3-9 to coincide with Asian Art in London, will comprise objects from the collections of the society’s 700 members. It is considered the most important to be staged by the OCS since its 50th anniversary exhibition in 1971.

Focusing on the inventiveness of Asian potters well beyond the classic confines of Chinese art, the show includes objects spanning six millennia.

Items range from the white kaolinitic earthenwares, unique in the Neolithic world, from 4th century BC Dawenkou to a Yonge period blue and white moonflask with carnations and asters and a richly-enamelled moths and butterfly vase from the Qianlong period.