Pottery Figure Seductress & Dancer Lady, Han Style Terracotta

A massive pottery pair of horses standing on all fours and striding with its right hoof forward. Extended snout ends in parted lips showing teeth beneath in a braying attitude. Low relief bridle on face and well defined eyes. Raised mane down back of the neck A fantastic example of the Wei dynasty horses. Large, exquisite walking Ferghana horses with great attention paid to anatomical detail were the choice of the wealthy. The horse was second only in importance to the dragon. It was supposed to possess magical powers which the early Chinese were eager to explore. It would be the horse that would carry the deceased to the next life and it would be the amount of horses that an individual owned that would guarantee his ongoing status in the hereafter. Thermoluminescence certificate from Madrid Labs included. In southern China, people turned to Daoism, and mingqi, as well as above-ground sculptures, became ever more infused with animal iconography and energized with dynamic lines. The north of China was eventually united by nomadic Tuoba invaders who founded the Northern Wei dynasty...

The tall columns have a sturdy square base. Each column is decorated with a wine theme that includes leaves and vines. Both pieces are outfitted with their original finish, and would...

A Chinese terracotta tomb figure (Ni Yong) from East Han Dynasty (25-220 AD), likely from the area of nowadays Sichuan. It depicts a horse groomer with tool and harness in hand. Dres...

A twentieth century Han dynasty style bronze recumbent horse with three legs tucked under the body and head slightly turned. The well incised mane gath...