A painted red pottery female polo player astride a galloping pony,

TANG DYNASTY

Details

A painted red pottery female polo player astride a galloping pony,
Tang Dynasty
The spirited horse covered in a white slip and modelled in full gallop with all four legs extended at their fullest and off the ground, the polo player seated firmly in the saddle with feet stretched forward, her body turned forwards and to the left, dressed in an orange and brown tunic with trousers, her right arm raised to strike, her black hair drawn up into a knot (some restoration)
41.5cm. long, metal stand

Lot Essay

The result of the thermoluminescence test, Oxford 866c46, 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 the Collections, Kansas City, 1959, p.208; cf. also 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, 1935-6, Catalogue, pl.2432, p.223.

A similar polo player and pony was sold in these Rooms, 19 November 1996, lot 248; and in our London Rooms, 10 June 1996, lot 47.

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