Page 40 - Christie's Fine Chinese Paintings March 19 2019 Auction

PROPERTY FROM A NEW YORK COLLECTION
1614
A LARGE SANCAI-GLAZED POTTERY FIGURE OF A HORSE
TANG DYNASTY (AD 618-907)
The horse is shown striding on a slab base with ears pricked and head turned The ceramic horses of the Tang dynasty were either decorated with sancai
slightly to the left, and is covered with a pale cream glaze, the mane and tail (three-color) glazes, like the current example, or were unglazed and cold-
with amber glaze. The harness is hung with green-glazed tassels, and the painted. Both techniques were extremely successful. The sancai glazes
saddle cloth is washed with vermilion pigment. produced brilliant, lasting colors, emphasizing the horses’ powerful bodies
22 in. (55.9 cm.) high and elaborate sprig-molded trappings. The current fgure is a superb
example of its type, and is unusual in being shown striding, rather than
$40,000-60,000 standing rigidly foursquare as most glazed horses are shown.
The horse depicted here is the revered ‘blood-sweating’ horse, which was
introduced into China from the west during the Han dynasty. These Ferghana
PROVENANCE
Parke Bernet Galleries, New York, 8 April 1948, lot 293. horses were known for their speed, power and stamina, qualities which are
brought out by the masterful hand of the artist. They were thought to have
The result of Oxford Authentication Ltd. thermoluminescence test no. descended from celestial horses, and were symbols of great status for those
166m40 is consistent with the dating of this lot. who owned them.
唐 三彩馬 Compare the similarly glazed fgure of a horse, with cream-glazed body,
green-glazed tassels, amber-glazed mane and unglazed saddle and saddle
cloth, but shown standing foursquare, sold at Christie’s New York, 17
September 2008, lot 412.

(another view)

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