Tricolor Pottery Figurine of a Horse

Period: Tang dynasty (618-907)
Dimensions: height: 76.5 cm, length: 88 cm
The horse has upright ears, round eyes, and an upward curling tail. The docile creature stands on a base. It is outfitted with a bridle, a head collar, a saddle pad, a saddle, mudguards, and reins with almond leaf shaped ornamentations. The glazed exterior is painted in white, green, and brown. The legs are vividly molded. It is evenly proportioned and true to life.
The early Tang rulers inherited a northern Chinese cultural tradition that had long been influenced by nomadic tribes. Consequently, they greatly valued horses. Li Shimin, the emperor Taizong, ordered craftsman to sculpt him six stone steeds to accompany him in burial. These horses were based on Yan Liben’s (a famous painter in the Tang dynasty) drawing. They served to commemorate the emperor’s achievements in battle and memorialize his beloved warhorses. Li Longji, the emperor Xuanzong, raised dancing horses. At the Festival of a Thousand Autumns (Qianqiu jie, the emperor’s birthday celebrations), he enjoyed a performance of horses rhythmically tapping their hooves. As “Drinking a Toast” (Qiang Jinjiu), a poem by the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai, describes, “The gaudy steed, the fur coat, call the boy to bring out the good wine, for quenching eternal grief with you.” Tricolor pottery horse figurines prevalent among Tang dynasty burial goods indicate the people’s love for horses.
This figurine is a gift from Mr. Zheng Zhenduo.