Lot 22
East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A powerful remnant of Han dynasty funerary sculpture, this two-part pottery horse captures the essence of an animal deeply revered in ancient Chinese culture. Comprised of a sculpted torso and separately modeled head, the figure is a study in both stylization and vitality, its simplified silhouette evoking strength and quiet nobility. Rendered in robust earthenware and burnished with the warm blush of faded red slip, the torso is broad and muscular, tapering at the legs to a gentle curve. The elongated neck rises to meet a sharply angled head, its angular features and alert expression giving the figure a sense of presence despite its fragmentary state. When joined, the two parts form the striking upper register of a full-bodied equine, one that once stood proudly among the mingqi figures in a tomb meant to sustain the soul in the afterlife. Size: 18.5" L x 5.5" W x 13.6" H (47 cm x 14 cm x 34.5 cm)
While the legs are absent and no rider is present, the composition remains dignified and evocative. Traces of red pigment hint at once-vivid surface decoration, perhaps once depicting bridle harness or ornamental details that reflected the horse's elevated role. In Han cosmology, such animals symbolized wealth, status, and military strength - their images carried into the tomb to ensure their master's continued mobility and honor in the world beyond.
Provenance: private Nashville, Tennessee, USA collection
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#195048
- Condition: Missing legs, tail, ears, and mane. Head has been professionally repaired and restored with repainting over break lines. Torso is intact. Both have nicks and abrasions to surface commensurate with age. Otherwise, liberal remaining pigments and rich earthen deposits and encrustations throughout.
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