A MASSIVE SICHUAN PAINTED GRAY POTTERY FIGURE OF A PRANCING HORSE

細節
A MASSIVE SICHUAN PAINTED GRAY POTTERY FIGURE OF A PRANCING HORSE
HAN DYNASTY

Standing with right foreleg slightly raised as if to break into a canter, the animal with strongly detailed haltered head, its mouth open showing its teeth, large eyes bulging, nostrils flared and ears pricked up, the dressed mane lying along the back of its raised neck, the front of the neck inscribed with the three characters yi ao zi incised into the clay, the small tail combed upright, restored--44½in. (113cm.) high

拍品專文

The three characters yi ao zi inscribed on the neck of this horse may be translated "Winged Tall One", probably the name of a horse

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 figure of a prancing horse, 1.14 m. in height, was found at Tianhuishan, Chengdu, Kaogu xuebao 1958, no.1, p. 100, and pl. IX:3. A very large figure of a prancing horse, but slightly smaller (106cm. high) than the present example, was found in cliff burial no. 13 at Majiashan, Xinduxian, Sichuan, recorded in Wenwu ziliao congkan, no. 9, 1985, pl. VI:5

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 in tomb no. 2 at Hejiashan, Mianyang, also in Sichuan, Wenwu, 1991, no. 3, pl. III, and p. 9

Also compare the Sichuan gray pottery horse sold in these rooms June 4, 1992, lot 208

The result of Oxford thermoluminescence test no. 666g53 is consistent with the dating of this lot