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Details

LOT 2019

Large Chinese Tang Terracotta Horse and Rider

TANG DYNASTY, 618-907 A.D.

16 1/8 in. (3.65 kg, 41 cm high).

Modelled standing on a rectangular base, wearing a harness adorned with pendants and an 'animal skin' saddlecloth; the rider modelled seated in the saddle, arms held before the body, gesturing to hold reins (absent); semi-naturalistic anatomical detailing to both figures; extensive remains of polychrome pigmentation.

Provenance

From a West Country, UK, collection, formed in the 1990s.

Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.C122f86 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.11703-199229.

Literature

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, accession number 54.169, for a broadly comparable figure.

CONDITION

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AUCTIONS:

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LOT 2019

Large Chinese Tang Terracotta Horse and Rider

Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,470

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