Description:

East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A charming mingqi pottery tableau depicting two horses feeding at troughs - a classic stable or farmyard scene. Molded in buff earthenware with traces of original pigments, the robust horses - symbols of strength, service, and elite status - are dynamically posed on a rectangular base before a feed trough and a conical water basin set atop a stacked, brick-like pedestal. Such miniature models were crafted as funerary offerings (mingqi), meant to accompany the deceased in the afterlife to provide comfort and social standing. Horses were essential for transportation, agriculture, and military strength, and their presence in tomb art signified both wealth and worldly aspiration. This vignette of rural life captures that ethos in beautifully preserved detail. Presented on a custom wood base for display. Size: 5.5" L x 4.25" W x 4.5" H (14 cm x 10.8 cm x 11.4 cm); 5.75" H (14.6 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Las Vegas, Nevada, USA collection

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#194750

  • Condition: Repaired. The base is repaired from 2 large pieces with visible breakline. Right horse head reattached, with visible breakline. Raised front leg is reattached. Mounted on wood base. Scattered remains of pigments.

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July 10, 2025 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000