Polychrome Terracotta Horse - China - Tang Period

Tang dynasty polychrome terra cotta caparisoned horse

China, Tang period (618-907)

Terracotta parade horse still showing significant vestiges of its original polychromy. The animal is depicted in a lively, noble attitude, with its foreleg raised, saddled and richly harnessed, characteristic of the great funerary sculptures of the Tang dynasty.
This period, considered one of the golden ages of Chinese art, is particularly renowned for its representations of horses, symbols of power, prestige and the opening to the West via the Silk Roads. Tang horses were placed in the tombs of dignitaries to accompany the deceased into the afterlife.
Our example stands out for the quality of its modeling, the softness of its volumes and the presence of remnants of ancient pigments visible on the saddle and neck.

The work is accompanied by a certificate of analysis by thermoluminescence from the German laboratory Ralf Kotalla (report no. 06K120504), concluding that it was fired at an early date, consistent with the presumed Tang period, with an estimated dating of around 1200 years (+/- 20 %).
The report also mentions several samples taken from different parts of the sculpture, as well as the presence of some old restorations