Pair of Large 19th Century Chinese Glazed Pottery Camel Figures

By the late Qing Dynasty, camels had long been iconic in Chinese art because of their role in the Silk Road trade routes. For centuries, Bactrian camels were prized for their endurance, carrying goods across the deserts of Central Asia. They have long symbolized wealth, endurance, and the storied Silk Road. With their flowing sancai glaze and proud stance, these figures bring a touch of adventure and history into today’s interiors.

Masterfully crafted in the 19th century, circa 1880, these figures are eye-catching in scale and presence! Each camel is modeled with lifelike expression and commanding stance, standing tall upon rectangular bases. The hollow construction with underside openings reflects traditional hand-building techniques of the period.

The surfaces are richly adorned in the celebrated sancai (“three-color”) glaze, with flowing layers of amber, green, and chestnut brown cascading across their sculptural forms. This luminous glaze, with its subtle iridescence and natural variation, enlivens the camels with remarkable depth and movement, emphasizing their proud humps, sinewy legs, and animated faces.

Rare in both their scale and pairing, these camels present a remarkable opportunity for the discerning collector or connoisseur of Asian decorative arts. Their sculptural grandeur makes them equally suited for an opulent traditional interior or a sophisticated, eclectic modern setting.
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