A very similar horse was excavatedin 1965 in the vicinity of Luoyang from the tomb of Yuan Shao, who died in 528. The horse from this burial has the rope around his neck, the band of thick tassels around the chest and the saddle blanket twisted in the same manner. See Zhongquo meishu guanji: Sculpture, vol. 4, pl. 111; and Kaogu, 1973, no. 4, pl. XI:1. See also a horse formerly in the collection of Aurelius Parenti, sold in these rooms June 3, 1988, lot 186

Compare also the similarly textured saddle cloth or mud guard on the horse illustrated in Chinese Ceramics, Ancient Style, Artists Publishing, Taiqan, 1989

The result of Oxford thermoluminescence test no. 566n71 is consistent with the dating of this lot