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Scientific Analysis Report: A thermoluminescence analysis report issued by Oxford Authentication on 7 August 2026, based on sample number C126j71, sets the firing date of both samples taken between 1000 and 1600 years ago, consistent with the dating above. A copy of the report accompanies this lot.
China, 618-907. The spirited horse standing foursquare on a rectangular base, its head finely modeled and slightly turned with flared nostrils, neatly incised eyes beneath pricked ears. The arched neck features a recessed channel for a natural hair mane, and a cloth-covered saddle sits over a blanket on its back. Covered in a striking emerald-green glaze, the saddle with red pigments and the base left unglazed revealing the buff ware.
Provenance: Christie’s London, 6 September 2006, lot 1490 (part-lot, together with an amber glazed horse of similar size), sold for GBP 3,120 or approx. EUR 6,500 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). William Cook, Marlborough, United Kingdom, acquired from the above. European private collection, acquired from the above. A copy of the signed invoice from William Cook, dated 17 September 2006, confirming the dating above, and stating a purchase price for the present lot (together with the aforementioned amber-glazed horse) of GBP 6,000 or approx. EUR 12,000 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), accompanies this lot. William Cook is an English antiques and furniture dealer who established his gallery in 1991 following formative experience with one of Britain’s leading antique dealers and at Christie’s in London. He grew up within the distinguished furniture-restoration tradition founded by his father, William Cook Sr., whose clients have included the British Royal Family, museums, collectors, dealers, and private collectors throughout the world. For more than three decades, William Cook Antiques has cultivated an international clientele through regularly published illustrated catalogues, exhibitions, and a longstanding presence at major antiques fairs in both England and the United States.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Expected wear and manufacturing irregularities including tiny firing cracks. Minor losses to glaze, a fine shallow fissure to the neck, old repairs and touchups as generally expected from Tang dynasty excavations. Small holes from sample-taking, now filled. Presenting exceptionally well.
Weight: 2.2 kg
Dimensions: Height 33.8 cm, Length 34.2 cm
Among the most universally admired examples of Chinese ceramic sculpture are the majestic horses made for the tombs of the aristocracy of the Tang Empire. These horses, representing wealth and power, played a significant part in emphasizing the importance of the occupant of the tomb. They were not only used for war or transport, but employed in a variety of leisurely activities. Polo, for example, was a popular pursuit at the Tang court and was played by both men and women. It was specifically encouraged by two Tang emperors, Taizong and Xuanzong, as being excellent for developing certain useful skills.
The most magnificent breed, immortalized in Chinese literature and the visual arts, was the Ferghana horse, introduced into central China from the West during the Han dynasty. These were the fabled 'celestial' or 'blood-sweating' horses, known for their speed, power, and stamina. The renowned court artist Han Gan (720-60) changed the nature of Chinese horse painting when he depicted one of Emperor Xuanzong's (r. 847-59) favorite horses, Night-Shining White (now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art), in a realistic rather than supernatural manner. This development parallels the realism of Tang arts in general, and is exemplified by the present lot.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related green-glazed horse with painted saddle, exhibited jointly by the Beijing Palace Museum and the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Galloping Wonders: Year of the Horse Science & Culture Exhibition, opened 4 February 2026, Shanghai.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s New York, 24 September 2020, lot 898
Price: USD 22,500 or approx. EUR 25,000 (for two) converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pair of small green and straw-glazed pottery figures of horses, China, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling and glaze. Note the smaller size (22.9 cm) and missing saddle.
Auction result comparison:
Type: Related
Auction: Sotheby’s New York, 29 March 2022, lot 645
Price: USD 7,560 or approx. EUR 7,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A green-and amber-glazed pottery figure of a horse, Tang dynasty
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling with similar saddle and the pose as well as the similar green glaze, albeit with an amber-glazedmane and tail. Note the related size (32.4 cm).
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