‘ZHENMUSHOU’, PROTECTIVE TOMB CREATURE WITH HUMAN FACE

Description The hollow figurine depicts a zhenmushou with a human face, curled up on its hind legs. The creature has full, parted lips, a broad nose, wide, protruding eyes, furrowed eyebrows, and large ears sticking out. The thick beard and long moustache are painted in black. In the center of the head stands a spatula horn bent forward. On the back – above a tail that is barely visible – extends a dorsal crest with three rounded growths. Two sinuous, flat, blunt-tipped wings are applied to the shoulders. The forelimbs show cubital spurs and all four legs are hoof-shaped. The belly is hollow. The complex original pigmentation of the figurine is not immediately recognizable.