Page 43 - March 22 2022 Bonhams

The horses are realistically modelled in a forward moving posture, 2013, pp. 220-221, where the author notes that a particular breed
with back legs in a striding posture but spread somewhat apart of foreign horse was favored by the Xuanzhong Emperor in equine
with the front leg in a prancing movement. The ears of both horses dancing performances on the occasion of his birthday (r. 667-731
are realistically pricked adding animation to the heads. One horse A.D.). See also two very similar horses, striding rather than prancing
opens it’s mouth in a neighing action. This large pair of horses with one leg raised, illustrated by Nicholas Grindley in his exhibition
display a remarkable degree of observation on the sculptor’s part catalogue, March 2001, nos. 3-4.
which is vividly captured in the finest examples of pottery figures
manufactured during the Tang dynasty. A related horse of smaller size in the Shaanxi Historical Museum, is
illustrated in Zhongguo taoci quanji, vol. 5, Shanghai, 2000, pl. 199
For a very similar pair of painted grey pottery horses see R. and another is illustrated by V. Choi, Horses for Eternity-Terracotta
Jacobsen, Celestial Horses & Long Sleeve Dancers: The David W. Equestrian Tomb Sculpture of Dynastic China, Hong Kong, 2007,
Dewey Collection of Ancient Chinese Tomb Sculpture, Chicago, no.67, pp. 186-7.

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