Page 135 - September 23 to 24 Important Chinese Art Christie's NYC

PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF FREDERICK A. AND SHARON L. KLINGENSTEIN
826
A MASSIVE PAINTED GREY POTTERY FIGURE OF A HORSE Horses in China during the Tang dynasty were admired for their speed and
TANG DYNASTY (AD 618-907) intelligence, and not only were they important in the realms of travel and war,
they also played a significant role in the leisurely activities of the nobility.
The horse is shown standing foursquare on a rectangular base with the
The Tang nobility was legendary for their love of horses, so much so that the
head turned slightly to the left. The head is sensitively modeled with alert
court passed a law in AD 667 that allowed only members of the elite to ride.
expression and the ears pricked. There are extensive traces of red pigment
Noble families might own literally thousands of horses, with different types
and white slip on the unsaddled body.
for use in the cavalry, for hunting and polo. The present figure is exceptional
33 in. (83.8 cm.) high
for its massive size, powerful modeling and sensitively rendered head with
distinctive alert expression. Painted pottery horses of this large size appear
$40,000-60,000 most often without trappings, most likely so that they could be outfitted with
materials that have long since perished. For another example of this type, see
PROVENANCE:
the large pottery horse lacking trappings sold at Christie's New York,
Eskenazi Ltd., London, 1989.
24 March 2004, lot 129.
FREDERICK A. 暨 SHARON L. KLINGENSTEIN 伉儷珍藏
唐 彩繪陶馬
來源:
埃斯卡納齊, 倫敦, 1989年。

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