LOT 0417

Chinese Tang Hunter Pair on Horseback

TANG DYNASTY, 618-907 A.D.

15 3/8 in. (7.7 kg total, 39 cm high).

A pair of ceramic mounted hunters, each modelled with semi-naturalistic anatomical detailing standing on rectangular bases, and extensive remains of painted pigmentation: one horse with a cropped mane, painted bridle, harness and decorative saddlecloth, prey animal slung behind saddle, rider in the saddle leaning forwards with one arm raised, hand in a gripping position forming a socket to accept a weapon or other object; one horse ornately caparisoned and with a flowing mane, a hunting hound straddling the horse in front of the mounted rider.

Acquired 1990s.
West Country, UK, collection.

Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report sample no.C122f85, from Oxford Authentication for one figure.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11364-193072.

Cf. The British Museum, museum number 1938,0524.114, for similar horses modelled in a different pose.

Since ancient times, “Lari Festival” has been a festival to offer sacrifice to various gods at the end of the year. In the Tang Dynasty, it was a custom to hunt this day, which was not only meant to meet the demand for sacrifice, but also to reveal the hunting loving warrior spirit then. In the poem titled Hunting On Lari Festival, Yao He in the mid and late periods of the Tang Dynasty also mentioned one of his collective hunting events to meet the demand for sacrifice on that festival when he was governor of Jin Zhou. Emperor Xianzong was very much astounded at such slaughters of foxes and hares and observed, "Every Lari Festival recent years, I heard some prefectures and counties, to take something to the capital, catch and raise foxes and hares to serve as tributes” (Complete Tang Proses,Vol. 60); therefore he issued the Fox & Hare Hunting Forbidding Decree.