Chinese Art - A Pair of Chinese Earthenware Polychrome Horses, Tang Dynasty (618-907) 唐 彩绘陶马一对

拍品描述

earthenware 15 3/8 x 14 7/8 x 4 3/4 in, 39 x 38 x 12 cm Each standing four-square, the well-modeled horses with defined features including slightly flared nostrils, furrowed brows, expressive eyes, all set below pricked ears, each supporting a saddle - a russet one with vertical striations, and a white one with covered blanket. Distinguished by their monumental presence, noble posture, and contrasting earthenware pigments, this exceptional pair of Tang Dynasty horses exemplifies the height of mortuary art commissioned for the high-ranking elite. Standing foursquare in poised balance, each figure reveals a sophisticated anatomical realism, defined by taut musculature, strong jawlines, and alert, expressive eyes that impart an unmistakable sense of gravitas and aristocratic power. The master artisan's technical hand is equally evident in the modeling of the equestrian trappings. The saddles and draped saddlecloths are rendered with crisp, tactile detail - one displaying textured, pleated folds gathered at the center, the other draped in clean, sweeping lines. Preserving much of their original painted cold-pigment finish, these figures celebrate the iconic "heavenly steeds" revered during the empire’s golden age. A rare surviving pair with complementary palette and dynamic detailing, this set represents a cornerstone of early Tang Dynasty sculpture. Please note: The results of Oxford Authentication thermoluminescence tests nos. C102b51 and C102b52 are consistent with the dating of this lot. Please note: the dimensions listed are for the larger red horse. PROVENANCE Priestly & Ferraro Chinese Art, London, 2003 An Important Private Collection, Montreal LITERATURE Karen Thomson, ed., The Blema and H. Arnold Steinberg Collection, Montreal, 2015, reproduced page 231

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