Horse
Culture
Chinese
DateT'ang Dynasty (618–907 CE)
Mediumbaked clay
Dimensions38.2 x 19.4 x 34.6 cm (15 1/16 x 7 5/8 x 13 5/8 in.)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Helen H. Lipner
Object number1972.31
Label TextThe T'ang dynasty was an age of splendour for all the arts, at times especially for the art of pottery tomb sculpture. But since inherent reverence of the Chinese forbade the excavation of cemeteries, little was known until excavations made by European railway engineers during the last quarter of the 19th century began to bring T'ang tomb sculpture to light.
What appears to be characteristic of most T'ang funerary sculpture, is their technical competence and their lively and spirited fashion, especially those of horses, camels, dancing girls, and musicians.
Like both our horses, most T'ang sculptures are made of pinkish clay, covered with a white slip, lightly fired, unglazed and with various color pigments. The seams here, partially visible on the exterior and interior surface, are running from head to tail and are revealing the construction with two half moulds. Decorations are effected by applied reliefs, partially modelled and partially stamped, see especially halter, harness acroutements, and the swinging schabracke of the smaller horse.
Following the example of their foreign rulers, Tartar and Mongul during T'ang times, the Chinese had become keen riders and excellent horsemen. For their best horses, they depended upon importations. A craze for the magnificent Arab horse reached its height during this period. Funerary pottery horses of this time are the only evidence of this today. For some reasons, these superb breeds could not maintain themselves in China and by the Yuan period they were replaced by the more hardy stocky bull-necked Mongolian pony which held the field in China ever since.
Of the two horses under consideration, the smaller one is certainly by far the more superior example. It appears to be one of the finest specimen of funerary T'ang horses extant today.On View
Not on view
