Han pottery tomb figures of large size have been found in numerous cliff burials in Sichuan Province. While most are human figures, animals such as chickens, pigs and dogs are also common. Horses are relatively rare. A very large figure of a prancing horse, 106 cm. high, was found in cliff burial no. 13 at Majiashan, Xinduxian, Sichuan, recorded in Wenwu ziliao conqkan, no. 9, 1985, pl. VI:5

Both these pottery horses may be compared, in the sharp modeling of the heads with open mouth and flaring lips, the bulging eyes, clipped mane, knotted tail and long neck held nearly upright, to an even larger bronze horse discovered recently in tomb no. 2 at Hejiashan, Jinyang, also in Sichuan, Wenwu, 1991, no. 3, pl. III, and p. 9

The result of Oxford thermoluminescence test no. 666a31 is consistent with the dating of this lot