Become a Member

Skip to main content
Collections Menu

Artwork

Advanced Search
Gift of Lenora and Walter F. Brown.
Lokapala
Gift of Lenora and Walter F. Brown.
Contact us at copyright@samuseum.org for rights and reproduction of this image. Photography by Peggy Tenison.

Lokapala

DepartmentAsian Art
CultureChinese
Date618-906
MediumEarthenware with Sancai glaze
Dimensionsh. 52 3/4 in. (134 cm)
w. 24 1/4 in. (61.6 cm)
d. 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm)
Credit LineSan Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Lenora and Walter F. Brown
Object number2013.38.6
Geography
Place madeChina
General regionAsia
DescriptionA monumental figure of a tomb guardian, Lokapala; buff pottery, the figure stands crushing a writhing demon underfoot, the whole supported on a rockwork base; the glowering, moustachioed figure wears a phoenix headdress and elaborate armor with Makara shoulder pieces and elephant head leggings; the demon in amber glaze, the rest in sancai glazes.Label TextIndian Lokapala were introduced to China through Buddhism and came to be known as tianwang, or "Heavenly Kings." The fearsome pairs were protectors in Tang dynasty tombs. These exceptionally large and well-modeled lokapala are partially covered in sancai glaze, but their heads and phoenix crowns are unglazed; these would have been painted, and some pigments remain intact. Both lokapala wear finely-detailed armor with the heads of makara-mythical crocodilian creatures-at the sleeves. The figure on the left wears a waistcloth of flayed elephant skins. This lokapala was molded in sections and fashioned together before firing. Air holes on the bases and other areas allow for heat to circulate in the kiln, minimizing the risk of an explosion. (Label text, October 2014)Exhibition HistorySan Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio, Legacy of Beauty: An Exhibition of Chinese Ceramics in Honor of Walter F. Brown, 2014
On view
Collections
Gift of Lenora and Walter F. Brown.
Lokapala
Culture: Chinese
618-906
Image Not Available for Guardian Figure, lokapala
Guardian Figure, lokapala
Unknown
Culture: Chinese
618-907
Gift of Lenora and Walter F. Brown.
Camel with Foreign Rider
Unknown
Culture: Chinese
ca. 618-906
Tomb Guardian
Tomb Guardian
Culture: Chinese
618-907
San Antonio Museum of Art, Gift of Lenora and Walter F. Brown.
Molded Flask
Culture: Chinese
907-1125
Gift of Lenora and Walter F. Brown.
Inkstone
Culture: Chinese
907-1125
Gift of Lenora and Walter F. Brown.
Horse
Culture: Chinese
618-906
San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Lenora and Walter F. Brown.
Tomb Guardian of an Earth Spirit
Unknown
Culture: Chinese
618-906
Horse
Horse
Culture: Chinese
618-906
Earth Spirit, qitou
Earth Spirit, qitou
Unknown
Culture: Chinese
ca. 618-906
San Antonio Museum of Art, Gift of Lenora and Walter F. Brown.
Ewer in the Shape of a Kalavinka
Culture: Chinese
907-1125
Image Not Available for Tsuba (“Sword Guard”) Depicting the Demon, Ibaraki
Tsuba (“Sword Guard”) Depicting the Demon, Ibaraki
Culture: Japanese
19th century

The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.

© 2019 San Antonio Museum of Art. All rights reserved.