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Lot Essay
This horsebreed was discovered in Mongolia at the end of the 19th Century by Colonel Przewalsky and was named after him. This race is presently nearly extinct, but was to be found in Mongolia and North west China during the Qin-Han dynasties. The Qin emperor improved the breeding line of this horse focussing on more stamina and power, which he was able to deploy effectively in his large and sucessful cavalry army.
Although much smaller than the life-size army pottery models from the tomb of Qin Shih Huangdi, the above example shows similarities not only in the modelling but also the details of the saddle and decoration. See Y. Zongyi, Terracotta Warriors and Horses at the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, Tokyo, 1983, pl 81. Comparable horses of this size are unknown and it might be feasible that the above lot was found in a nearby tomb of one of the Emperor's subordinate members of the nobility.
The dating of this lot is consistent with the result of the Oxford Authentication Ltd. thermoluminescence test nr. C101y73.
Although much smaller than the life-size army pottery models from the tomb of Qin Shih Huangdi, the above example shows similarities not only in the modelling but also the details of the saddle and decoration. See Y. Zongyi, Terracotta Warriors and Horses at the Tomb of Qin Shi Huang, Tokyo, 1983, pl 81. Comparable horses of this size are unknown and it might be feasible that the above lot was found in a nearby tomb of one of the Emperor's subordinate members of the nobility.
The dating of this lot is consistent with the result of the Oxford Authentication Ltd. thermoluminescence test nr. C101y73.