Collection
China
- Title
- Horse
- Place of origin
-
China
- Period
- Tang dynasty 618 - 907 → China
- Year
- 618 CE-907 CE
- Media category
- Ceramic
- Materials used
- earthenware
- Dimensions
-
64.0 x 72.5 x 22.5cm
- Signature & date
- Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Gift of Lady Drysdale 1987
- Accession number
- 434.1987
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
This handsome sculptural piece is one of the 'mingqi' funerary pieces placed in Chinese tombs to accompany the deceased in the after-life. The horse is one of the esteemed "blood-sweating" horses from Ferghana to the West of China. Such steeds were much admired by the Chinese and became a sort of status symbol, with the importance of the deceased being reflected in the number and size of such 'mingqi' horses in his tomb.
Asian Art Dept., AGNSW, 11 June 1987.
Literature: S G Valenstein 'A handbook of Chinese ceramics', The Metrolpolitan Museum of Art, New York 1975.
