A PAINTED AND GILT POTTERY FIGURE OF A PRANCING HORSE, TANG DYNASTY
China, 618-907. Standing foursquare with its mouth open, the ears pricked, and the short, knotted tail flicked out in a dynamic pose, the horse is caparisoned with a saddle covered with a cloth gathered on the sides atop the black-striped mud guard, and the chest strap, crupper, and bridal are hung with gilt ornaments.


Provenance
P.C. Lu Works of Art Ltd, Hong Kong. From a private collection in the northeastern United States, acquired from the above. Started as a small business in January 1976 in Hong Kong, selling Chinese antiques, P.C. Lu was able to scale operations, eventually sending his son Fred to the MIT to pursue his PhD. Today, many objects from his fine collection are housed in the British Museum.

Condition:
Some repair, fills and touchups as generally expected from Tang dynasty excavations. Losses, chips, scratches, fissures, and soil encrustations. Extensive wear to pigments and gilt. Overall presenting remarkably well.

Weight: 2,796 g
Dimensions: Length 47 cm


Horses were admired for their speed and intelligence
during the Tang dynasty. Not only were they important in the realms of travel and war, but they also played a significant role in the leisurely activities of the nobility. The Tang nobility was legendary for their love of horses, so much so that the court passed a law in 667 AD that allowed only members of the elite to ride. Noble families might own literally thousands of horses, with different breeds for use in the cavalry, hunting, and polo. Pottery horses of this size appear most often without trappings, most likely so that they could be outfitted with materials that have long since perished.


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Galerie Zacke, Vienna, 5 March 2021, lot 139
Price: EUR 24,016 or approx.
EUR 26,500
adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A large painted pottery figure of a prancing horse, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Note the similarly ornamented caparison. Note the size (length 58 cm).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 22 March 2013, lot 1161
Price: USD 40,000 or approx.
EUR 48,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A painted pottery figure of a prancing horse, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Note the similarly ornamented caparison. Note the size (40.7 cm long).


Auction result comparison:

Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 19 September 2014, lot 719
Price: USD 40,000 or approx.
EUR 48,000
converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A painted pottery figure of a prancing horse, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Note the similarly shortened tail. Note the size (44.3 cm high).




唐代彩繪陶馬俑

中國，618-907年。頭部較小，豎耳瞪目，鬃毛豎立，短尾尖上翹。通體彩繪，馬背上有鞍具和轡飾，局部掛有鎏金飾品。


來源：
香港P.C. Lu Works of Art Ltd藝術公司；美國東北部私人收藏購於上述公司。P.C. Lu 藝術公司於1976 年 1 月在香港成立，最初是一家銷售中國古董的小企業，後來擴大運營規模，最終將他的兒子Fred送到麻省理工學院攻讀博士學位。 如今，他的許多精美收藏品都收藏在大英博物館中。

品相：
一些修復和填充，有缺損、碎裂、劃痕、裂縫和土壤結殼。顏料和鎏金嚴重磨損。

重量：2,796 克
尺寸：長 47 釐米


在唐朝，馬因其速度和敏捷而備受推崇
。它們不僅在旅行和戰爭中發揮著重要作用，也在貴族的休閒活動中頻繁出現。唐朝貴族因酷愛馬而聞名，以至於西元667年通過了一項法律，只允許貴族成員騎馬。 貴族家庭可能擁有數千匹馬，不同品種的馬用於騎兵、狩獵和馬球。 這種尺寸的陶馬通常沒有任何裝飾。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：Galerie Zacke，維也納，2021年3月5日，lot 139
價格：EUR 24,016（相當於今日
EUR 26,500
）
描述：唐代大型彩繪奔馬陶俑
專家評論：請注意相似的裝飾。請注意尺寸 (長 58 釐米)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2013年3月22日，lot 1161
價格：USD 40,000（相當於今日
EUR 48,000
）
描述：唐彩繪陶馬
專家評論：請注意相似的裝飾。請注意尺寸 (40.7 釐米 long)。


拍賣結果比較：

形制：非常相近
拍賣：紐約佳士得，2014年9月19日，lot 719
價格：USD 40,000（相當於今日
EUR 48,000
）
描述：唐彩繪馬
專家評論：請注意相似的短尾。請注意尺寸 (高44.3 釐米)。