- CHINESE TANG DYNASTY POLYCHROME HORSE
CHINESE TANG DYNASTY POLYCHROME HORSE W/ TLEast Asia, China, Tang Dynasty, ca. 618 to 906 CE. A lovely mold-made pottery horse shown in stride atop an integral plinth. Painted in hues of apricot, peach, and chocolate brown, the noble steed displays a naturalistic head with a bulbous snout, incised nostrils, and almond-shaped eyes, all capped by a pair of perky ears. His thick body bears an elaborate saddle featuring lengthy polka-dot-incised saddle flaps beneath a striped sash. A slender tapered tail extends downwards from the ancient horse's posterior and an ovoid vent is featured on the animal's underside. Size: 8.75" L x 5" W x 7.5" H (22.2 cm x 12.7 cm x 19 cm); 7.75" H (19.7 cm) on included custom stand.
According to Zhixin Jason Sun, Curator of the Department of Asian Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, "The importance of horses rose to new heights in the Tang dynasty (618–907) when, as emblems of imperial power, they marched in state processions, galloped through royal hunting parks, raced across polo fields, and even danced before the emperor. Their portraits were painted by leading court artists, and their majestic form was modeled in brightly glazed pottery as tomb figurines and sculpted on marble plaques to adorn emperors' tombs as symbols of dynastic vitality." Beyond this, the horse played a significant role in the unification of the Chinese Empire, as the ancients could communicate to parties near and far due to the great speed of these noble steeds. The horse also assisted the military to conquer distant lands and grow the empire. As the desire for stronger, faster breeds grew, the ancients imported horses from Central Asia, leading to the creation of the famous Silk Road.
We see evidence of the reverence for the horse in the visual culture of ancient China. Imagery of horses abound in painting, literature, and sculpture. During the Tang dynasty, artists created burial art representing these revered animals. This particular piece depicts a large charger; this type of horse served as both a symbol of imperial stability that engendered bountiful trade and prosperity for the expanding empire and the reward of military exploits to the west. The most cherished horses were raised in the western kingdom of Ferghana and known as "blood-sweating horses." These were delivered as tribute to the reigning emperor. In general, for the ancient Chinese, horses were a sign of wealth.
This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.
Provenance: private Reno, Nevada, USA collection, acquired through descent, originally purchased in San Francisco, California, USA in the 1960s to 1970s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#163709
Condition:
TL holes on bottom of saddle, under lower jaw, and between front legs. Repaired from several pieces with restoration to front of base and restoration over break lines. Break line visible on proper right ear. Chip to proper left ear. Expected surface wear with nick, abrasions, and some chipping to paint as shown, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, very good with nice remaining pigments
- FOSSILIZED ALASKAN EQUUS HORSE FORE
FOSSILIZED ALASKAN EQUUS HORSE FORE LEGNorth America, Northwestern United States, Alaska, Pleistocene (Ice Age), ca. 200,000 to 10,000 years ago. A wonderful, fossilized leg from a prehistoric species, likely Equus lambei, also known as the Yukon horse. This specimen is probably from the front leg and from the top down contains a cannon bone, long pastern bone, short pastern bone, and the coffin bone which forms the hoof. The bones are professionally prepared in a vertical orientation to show off the interlocking anatomy and display beautiful black and brown hues from the fossilization process. Horses ranged across North American grasslands, traveling in small family herds. The Yukon horse was a slender and relatively small horse - only 4 feet tall (1.2 m), but a nearly direct ancestor to modern day wild horses. Once they died out at the end of the Ice Age, horses were not seen in North America until the Spanish introduction of Equus caballus, modern day horses. Size: 16.5" L x 2.5" W (41.9 cm x 6.4 cm); 17.5" H (44.4 cm) on included custom stand.
Several species of prehistoric horse roamed North America during the Pleistocene: including Equus alaskae, Equus simplicidens, and Equus lambei. The horse played a very important part in the lives of prehistoric humans in both, Neanderthals, Cro-Magnons and most probably, Homo erectus. Prehistoric carvings and cave paintings in Europe show the horse well-represented with other Ice Age beasts such as the Woolly Mammoth, Woolly Rhinoceros, Aurochs, Bison and Cave Lion. Prehistoric humans relied on their hide and meat to survive, but it is highly likely that prehistoric humans marveled at the beauty of the horse as we do today, watching the herds roam free.
Provenance: ex-private Hagar collection, Wildwood, Missouri, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#168040
Condition:
Professionally prepared, restored and put together. Corner of coffin bone is repaired with new material. Long pastern bone has a stable fissure vertically down center that has stabilizing infill material. The rest of the bones are intact and have scattered mineral deposits. Visible adhesive within joint areas to connect each bone.
- MCLOUGHLIN BROS. JEROME PARK STEEPLE
MCLOUGHLIN BROS. JEROME PARK STEEPLE CHASEMcLoughlin Bros. Jerome Park Steeple Chase , early 20th c. , folding paper covered wood framed gameboard set enclosed in a slip case which opens, revealing gameboards for playing The Balky Horse , Pool , and Steeplechase , offered with instruction booklet, game chips, dice cups, and four lithographed paper jockey on horse playing pieces, mounted on paper and wood spinning device, slip case - 14" x 12 1/5".
Competitive In-House shipping is available for this lot.
Condition:
Excellent condition. Some light wear.
- MCLOUGHLIN BROS. HOME STEEPLE CHASE,
MCLOUGHLIN BROS. HOME STEEPLE CHASE, CA. 1900McLoughlin Bros. Home Steeple Chase , ca. 1900 , with brilliant cover imagery and game instructions on underside, inset game board complete with two spinners, wood tokens and cast metal jockey on horse playing pieces, 12 1/4" x 12 3/4".
Competitive In-House shipping is available for this lot.
Condition:
Excellent (some light edge wear; splits to apron corners)