Chinese Wei Buddha Brick

A pair of glazed ceramic figurines comprising: retainer standing on a socle base wearing long high-collar knee-length robe and conical cap, hands on the stomach holding an applied bandolier; similar with right hand raised inside an overlong sleeve and left hand holding a cap(?). 599 grams total, 18 cm high each



Acquired 1970s. West Country, UK, 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 group of 12 terracotta pottery fragments including figures, heads and animals. 919 grams total, 3.1-10.4 cm



From Java, Indonesia. From the Mary & Peter White collection.