Loading, please wait...

Chinese Tang Horse with Separate Rider Chinese Tang Horse with Separate Rider Chinese Tang Horse with Separate Rider
Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge
Details

LOT 0416

Chinese Tang Horse with Separate Rider

TANG DYNASTY, 618-907 A.D.

12 5/8 in. (1.75 kg, 32 cm high).

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.

Provenance

From the R.M.Hicks OBE private collection, UK.

Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.C106u29 from Oxford Authentication.

Literature

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, New York, accession numbers 54.169 and 1991.253.7a, b, for similar figures.

Footnotes

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.

CONDITION
VETTING:

TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process


AUCTIONS:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 0416

Chinese Tang Horse with Separate Rider

Sold for (Inc. bp): £975

Print page

RELATED LOTS
  • Very Large Thai Gilt Bronze Buddha Shakyamuni
    Very Large Thai Gilt Bronze Buddha Shakyamuni
    19th-20th century A.D.

    Estimate: £10,000 - 14,000 (+bp*)

    Opening Bid: £5,000

    A large gilt bronze Shakyamuni Buddha figure seated cross-legged in virasana on a semi-circular lotus flower dais, right hand in bhumisparsha mudra, the left resting on his lap, wearing a samghati adorned with floral motifs, his face with a meditative expression and with downcast eyes below arched eyebrows, aquiline nose, gentle smile, elongated earlobes, the hair in tight curls surmounted by a flame. 99.5 kg, 95 cm high



    French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France. with Ogotai (?) Auctions, Paris, France, 22 January 2016, lot 2. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11714-199350.

    The historical Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha, (born Prince Siddhartha Gautama) was the founder of the Buddhist religion; he lived and taught in 6th century India. Born to a royal or aristocratic family of the Shakya kingdom, at age 29 he learned of the deep suffering experience by the people of his land, causing him to relinquish his title and palace home and after six years of study, self-sacrifice and meditation, became an enlightened Buddha. Here, Buddha is shown seated in a yogic meditative posture, his right hand gesturing towards the Earth Goddess at the moment prior to his enlightenment. He displays many of the lakshanas, or auspicious marks of Buddhahood- the extended earlobes remind the viewer of his former princely status; three rings around the neck; urna formed from a curl of hair.

    Lot Details

  • Chinese Tang Horse with Separate Rider
    Chinese Tang Horse with Separate Rider
    Tang Dynasty, 618-907 A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £975

    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.

    Lot Details

  • Chinese Neolithic Painted Frog Jar
    Chinese Neolithic Painted Frog Jar
    3rd-2nd millennium B.C.

    Estimate: £250 - 350 (+bp*)

    Opening Bid: £125

    A piriform ceramic jar with short neck, everted rim and two integral lug handles, the body painted with degenerate 'frog' motifs, clusters of dashes and scallops to the rim. 3.7 kg, 35 cm hgh



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

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list