A fine, well provenancedancient Chinese Han dynasty terracotta horse and rider, dating to 206 BC – 220 AD.
Standing proudly, the broad horse stares confidently forward, with ears raised and biting down on its (modern) reins. The body is thickset and somewhat elongated, the docked tail is slightly raised in a show of controlled vigour. The rider sits upright, his long robe splayed across the saddle and his sleeves drifting in the wind. He wears a distinctive, black cap, typical of court fashions during the period.
The bold contours of the horse are typical of Han styles, the simplified outline of the body has been reduced to a formalised abstraction, recalling the shape of animal bronzes from archaic China. The power of the horse is not emphasised through distinct detailing of the body, but rather through the sweeping authority of the silhouette.
Strange as it may seem, beautiful figures such as this were produced by Chinese sculptors and artists not for the living, but for the dead. This fine piece of Chinese art would have accompanied a member of the Han elite into the afterlife, providing protection and acting as a display of wealth and status.
Height: 16 inches.
Length: 14 ½ inches.
Condition:With restorations throughout, the reins modern as mentioned.
Provenance:
Ex. American private 10th June 2004. lot 262. For an illustration of the piece and the lot details from this sale, please see the following link.
With original Sotheby\'s tags.
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