Chinese Neolithic Painted Frog Jar

An unglazed ceramic rounded vase with flared rim and 'leather' texture to the body. 1.04 kg, 18.5 cm high



Acquired 1970s-1990s. Ex West Country collection.

A ceramic horse and rider figure modelled in the round with semi-naturalistic anatomical detailing, the horse standing on a rectangular base, its stocky neck and head slightly turned to the right, ears pricked forwards, cropped mane and short, dressed tail; rider seated in saddle wearing a knee-length robe, hood and riding boots, one arm held in front of his body, the other raised above his head, detailing to his face; remains of polychrome pigmentation; the upper half of the rider's body modelled separately. 1.75 kg, 32 cm high



From the R.M.Hicks OBE private collection, UK. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.C106u29 from Oxford Authentication.

A symbol of military strength and social status, the horse was ever a potent mythological and symbolic animal in China. During the Tang Dynasty, both polo and hunting from horseback became fashionable for men and women. It was also during the Tang Dynasty period that female court attendants on horses appeared in art and in tomb sculpture. The fruits of China's relationship with the horse include three of the most important innovations in equestrian history: the horse collar, the stirrup and harnesses based on the breast strap. The failure of China's domestic horse breeding programmes forced them to artificially inflate the price of tea (the production of which was controlled by China), so that tea could be traded for horses from their neighbours.

A matched pair of gold bracelets, each a penannular braised-wire shank with finials formed as grotesque heads with teeth bared, inset garnet eyes. 42.17 grams total, 63-65 mm



Habsburg, Feldman, GOLD, Important Ancient and Ethnic Jewellery and Works of Art in Precious Metal, Hotel des Bergues, Geneva, 14 May 1990, lots 105, and 111. Private collection, acquired from the above sale. Important North West London collection. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Habsburg, Feldman, GOLD, Important Ancient and Ethnic Jewellery and Works of Art in Precious Metal catalogue pages. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11048-184610.