Rare Tang Dynasty Dog Ceramic Fetches Millions

The Tang dynasty amber-glazed figure of a dog saw 44 bids placed, fetching a final price of HK$5,248,000—more than 17 times its high estimate.

For more than a millennia, dogs have held an important place in Chinese society. Unlike the more common horses and camels that reflected Tang China's cosmopolitan Silk Road culture, dog figures are comparatively rare. This elegant example represents a Central Asian sighthound, possibly a Saluki, a prized hunting breed distinguished by its slender form and long, pendulous ears.