Six Dynasties Period Figure of a Horse

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Six Dynasties Period Figure of a Horse

About the Item

A majestic and nobly-proportioned Six Dynasties (220 AD – 589 AD) pottery model of a prancing horse. Similar to early tang horses, this figure is strong and simple. The animal is caught mid-motion, one leg bent, head held high and directed forward, standing on a plinth and wearing a saddle. The body is elegantly shaped, with beautiful slender musculature. The head is realistically molded, with gently flared nostrils, ears upright and alert. The entirety of the horse has been covered in a white slip. It’s tossed tail suggests motion and energy. Minor losses, as expected. Considerable burial earth remains. TL (thermoluminescence) tested by Oxford Laboratories in 1998. The Six Dynasties is a collective term for six Han-ruled regimes in China during the periods of the later phase of the Three Kingdoms era (220–280 AD), the Jin dynasty (265–420), and the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420–589). It also coincides with the era of the Sixteen Kingdoms (304–439), a chaotic warring period in northern China after the collapse of the Western Jin dynasty. During the Han period, many artifacts and effigies were buried in preparation for the afterlife. The burial of genuine articles made from metal or stone were banned but clay replicas were permitted. According to Han belief, the collection of buried articles had to reflect and indicate the identity of the person buried in the tomb but did not need to be literally life-sized or functional. Consequently, potential grave-robbers had little incentive to take the risk and make the effort required. Many tombs collapsed over the centuries and others filled with mud. Many, however, remained intact and were only discovered in the 1990s and 2000s due to excavations for modern buildings, many of which require very deep foundations. This Six Dynasties sculpture is of a horse that features a beautifully aged patina and comes with a certified TL Test (Thermoluminescence Analysis Report Sample No. C198u22) that was done by Phyllis Hsia of Oxford Authentication South East Asia. The Six Dynasties includes Eastern Wu dynasty (222–280), Eastern Jin dynasty (317–420), Liu Song dynasty (420–479), Southern Qi dynasty (479–502), Liang dynasty (502–557), and Chen dynasty (557–589).

Dimensions:
Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)Width: 17 in (43.18 cm)Depth: 6 in (15.24 cm)
Style:
Han (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Terracotta
Place of Origin:
China
Period:
15th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
220 AD–589 AD
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading. Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Chicago, IL
Reference Number:
Seller: 20S020011stDibs: LU886421167712