$20,000

Artwork Description

Magnificent prancing horse in orange terracotta with traces of polychrome paint. Springing its right leg with a lively position and an expressive look. With a finely decorated saddle. This piece is provided with a Thermoluminescence Test from Ralph Kotalla Lab NE: 15K120504 (Worldwide oldest private laboratory specialized for genuine analyses) in Germany. War horses were the pride of the Tang (AD 618-907), a dynasty of prosperity, military expansion and artistic achievement. As sculpture, they have timeless appeal, their stylized arched necks, pricked ears and heavy torsos exude confidence, distinction and charm. It was during the “golden age” of Chinese art that the horse statue became a true work of art. The Tang dynasty was a period of peace and prosperity with traders venturing further than ever before. Returning home they brought back western fashions and traditions which were quickly embraced by the upper classes. Movement had been introduced on a grand scale for the first time in the history of Mingqi; horses pawing the ground head down and mouth open became more common. Large, exquisite walking Ferghana horses with great attention paid to anatomical detail were the choice of the wealthy. The horse was second only in importance to the dragon. It was supposed to possess magical powers which the early Chinese were eager to explore. It would be the horse that would carry the deceased to the next life and it would be the amount of horses that an individual owned that would guarantee his ongoing status in the next life.