A LARGE SANCAI-GLAZED POTTERY HORSE

VARIOUS PROPERTIES

Details

A LARGE SANCAI-GLAZED POTTERY HORSE
TANG DYNASTY

Shown standing foursquare on a rectangular base with head turned slightly to the left and mouth open, the forelock divided into three sections, two parted to the sides and the central section swept upwards between pricked ears, covered with a cream glaze, as is the hogged mane and bound tail, the body glazed in rich amber and cream glazes draining down the legs to the cream-glazed hoofs, the gathered saddle cover glazed green and the elaborate trappings glazed in amber and green, with large scrolling foliate appliques on the bridle and pendent from the foliate-molded crupper on the rear haunches, the similarly molded chest straps decorated with large cream-glazed tufts; some restoration--21¼ in. (54cm.) high

Lot Essay

These large sancai horses are often modeled with great detail and individuality, so to find an identical example would be unusual. Compare, however, a horse with similar trappings illustrated by Hayashiya, Oriental Ceramics, The World's Great Collections, vol. 1, Tokyo National Museum, Japan, 1982, fig. 30. See, also, the original gilt-metal trappings on which these were based, in Mino and Robinson, Beauty and Tranquility: The Eli Lilly Collection of Chinese Art, Indianapolis Museum of Art, 1983, p. 174, fig. E

The result of Oxford thermoluminescence test no. 666w8 is consistent with the dating of this lot