A painted red pottery figure of a female polo player astride a galloping horse

TANG DYNASTY

Details

A painted red pottery figure of a female polo player astride a galloping horse
Tang Dynasty
The galloping horse extending all four legs in mid air, the ears pricked forwards, the mouth open, the tail ducked, covered in white slip, the female rider seated with twisted body and legs placed forwards, her arms raised in full swing, wearing a red tunic with brown trousers above black boots, her black hair pulled up in a high knot, details picked out in red and black pigment (minor restoration)
40 cm. long, metal stand

Lot Essay

The result of the thermoluminescence test no. C198b61 is consistent with the dating of this lot.

This polo player is closely related to the well-known group of four female polo players in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, referred to in the Handbook of Collections, Kansas City, 1959, p.208; M. Medley, Tang Pottery and Porcelain, pl.41, p. 51; compare further the polo player exhibited at the International Exhibition of Chinese Art, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1935-36, Catalogue, pl.2432, p.223 and Chine: des Chevaux et des Hommes, Donation J. Polain, 1995, no.49-54.

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