Chinese Tang Ceramic Mounted Musician

The animal's head raised, mouth open and ears pricked, integrally modelled saddle, caparison, bridle and plume; tail absent. 2.85 kg, 39 cm high

Tail absent.

Acquired 1980s-1990s. Ex West Country collection. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.C122g65 from Oxford Authentication. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11701-199226.

The horse modelled in the round galloping with a polo player in the saddle, poised to swing a mallet; the horse and rider with semi-naturalistic detailing, polychrome motifs to their garments and saddle cloth; mounted on a custom-made display base. 6.45 kg total, 57 cm long including stand



Ex Cotswold, UK, collection, 1970-1990. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.09CM260619 from Laboratory Kotalla. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.203484.

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; the separate 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.