A PAINTED POTTERY FIGURE OF A PRANCING HORSE, TANG DYNASTY China, 618-907. The spirited horse is shown with left foreleg raised, the head well modeled with open mouth, flared nostrils, and expressive eyes below the pricked ears, the gracefully arched neck carved on one side to suggest the combed mane. Provenance: Ancient collection in Milan, by repute acquired around 1900, and thence by descent within the same family. An important Italian private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Some repair and touchups as generally expected from Tang dynasty excavations. Losses, fissures, and encrustations. Minor firing flaws, such as firing cracks, glaze flakes, glaze recesses, and dark spots. Drilled holes from sample-taking. Overall, very good condition. Scientific Analysis Report: A thermoluminescence sample analysis has been conducted by Archeolabs TL, Saint Bonnet de Chavagne, France, reference no. FH-06-12-02-01-TL, dated 2 April 2006, and is consistent with the suggested period of manufacture. A copy of the thermoluminescence analysis report accompanies this lot. Weight: 16 kg Dimensions: Height 65 cm, Length 70 cm Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related painted gray pottery figure of a horse, dated to the early Tang dynasty, of slightly larger size (81.2 cm high), at Christie's New York in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 30 March 2005, lot 249, sold for USD 72,000. 唐代彩繪陶馬 中國，618-907年。這匹精神勃勃的奔馬，造型均匀，頭小頸長，左前腿抬起，嘴巴張開，鼻孔放大，耳朵竪起，眼睛炯炯有神，馬頭微微偏向一側。奔馬膘肥體壯，骨肉健美，極富張力。 來源：米蘭古玩收藏，據説購於1900年前后，自此保存在同一家族至今。義大利重要私人收藏，購於上述收藏。 品相：唐代考古中普遍存在的一些修復和修飾，有缺損、裂縫和結殼。 輕微的燒製缺陷，如裂紋、釉面剝落、凹陷和黑斑。 取樣時所留下的鑽孔。 總躰狀況極好。 科學檢測報告：一份法國聖博內德沙瓦尼的Archeolabs TL 2006年4月2日出具的熱釋光檢測報告FH-06-12-02-01-TL 與所建議的製造年代相符。隨附報告副本。 重量：16 公斤 尺寸：高 65 厘米, 長 70 厘米 拍賣結果比較：一件相近的唐初彩繪灰陶馬，尺寸稍大 (高81.2 厘米)，見紐約佳士得 Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 2005年3月30日 lot 249, 售價USD 72,000。