Tang Dynasty Stoneware Figure of a Horse and Rider

Tang dynasty, 618-907 AD, Xi'an (Chang'an), Shaanxi province, China

Discover this unrefined, absolutely charming miniature Tang Dynasty tomb figurine of a horse and rider, crafted during China's golden age of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).  Hand-modeled from buff-colored stoneware (changsha ware) and finished with a rich amber glaze, this piece is a lovely example of ancient Chinese pottery.

Tang Dynasty pottery is celebrated for its mingqi or "spirit goods," tomb figures that were symbols of status and protection for the afterlife. Figures like this one were meticulously arranged inside tombs, with their size and number reflecting the rank of the deceased. This rare find, featuring a noble rider and horse, embodies the spirit of Tang funerary art, where the horse and Bactrian camel symbolized strength, while attendants and soldiers often accompanied the deceased.

In good condition. Age-related wear and abrasion. Small chip in the ear. Glazing flaws and fritting. Rich encrusted earthen deposits. Size approx. 8,0cm x 7,5cm x 3,0cm. 

Provenance: Swedish private collection.

For a similar example see:

Horse and rider, Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields,  Accession Number: 1991.195 (https://collections.discovernewfields.org/art/artwork/23102)

References and further reading:

Gilded Dragons: Buried Treasures from China’s Golden Ages, The British Museum, ed. Carol Michaelson, 1999.

Immortality of the Spirit: Chinese Funerary Art from the Han and Tang Dynasties Exhibition Catalogue, Jill J. Deupi, Ive Covaci & Leopold Swergold, Immortality of the Spirit - Ephemera. 1, Fairfield University, 2012. (https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/immortality_ephemera/1)

Arts of the Tang Court, Patricia Eichenbaum Karetzky, Hong Kong; New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.

The Art of the Yellow Springs: Understanding Chinese Tombs, Wu Hung, London: Reaktion Books, 2011.