Northern Qi Painted Pottery Rearing Horse Figurine

拍品描述

Dimensions：Total Length 46 cm (18.1 in), Overall Height 38 cm (15.0 in), 6th Century CECondition & Provenance：The pottery horse is entirely intact with no breaks, missing sections or restorations. All limbs, head, saddle trappings and tail ornaments are fully preserved. Original mineral pigments including red, black and green are naturally faded and worn from long-term burial, with no modern repainting. The clay body carries uniform ancient weathering patina, subtle natural soil erosion across the surface, and the integrated base has no chipping. It was once owned by a Hong Kong collector specializing in Northern Dynasty tomb pottery, then acquired by a private antiquities collector based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA in 2023, accompanied by complete provenance paperwork and professional antique authentication report.Description：This painted pottery horse is a premium burial artifact crafted during the Northern Qi Dynasty, shaped under the cultural fusion of Central Plains and northern nomadic tribes, representing the bold, unrestrained sculptural aesthetic of war horses from the Wei-Jin Northern and Southern Dynasties. The figurine was molded from solid clay then refined by hand, attached to an integrated rectangular clay base for stable display. The steed strikes a dynamic pose with one front hoof raised, its musculature carved full and powerful with fluid lifelike lines. The horse’s mane is meticulously incised with dense parallel lines to render individual strands; upright ears and crisp muzzle detailing deliver a spirited, vigorous demeanor. The full set of three-dimensional equestrian gear covers its body, with plump saddle and hanging saddle flaps retaining vivid original red pigment along edges. Strap harnesses wrap around the torso decorated with embossed bell and leaf ornaments outlined in dark ink, creating rich layered decoration. The curled upward tail and spherical hip adornments remain fully intact. Made of grey pottery clay primed with thin white slip, the piece was colored with natural mineral red, black and green paints. Thousands of years underground softened the pigments into mottled natural patina, with mineral stains deeply permeating the clay matrix. Complete Northern Qi dynamic rearing horses with surviving original paint are extremely scarce on the international antique market. This specimen fully retains all Northern Dynasty clay sculpting and pigment painting techniques, offering direct tangible evidence for researching Northern Dynasties cavalry systems, ancient equestrian gear and northern Chinese sculptural art. It is a museum-grade rare miscellaneous artifact highly sought after by North American pottery collectors, holding remarkable historical research value and strong long-term market appreciation potential.

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