A pair of painted gray pottery figures of horses, Tang dynasty

Christie's New York, 30th March 2005, lot 252. 

Naturalistically modelled, the present pair of painted gray pottery horses exemplify the Tang dynasty’s sophisticated approach to funerary sculpture, in which careful observation of anatomy and movement was paramount. Each horse is shown in a forward-stepping stance, with elongated legs, gently arched necks, and alert heads turned slightly inward, creating a dynamic sense of presence and interaction. The restrained modelling of the musculature, pricked ears, flaring nostrils, and subtly defined cheekbones conveys both vitality and controlled strength, qualities highly prized in Tang equine imagery.

Compare a similar painted gray pottery horse, also with a removable saddle, illustrated in Art D'Extreme Orient, Jacques Barrere, Paris, 1991, pp 50 and 51; another similar pair of prancing horses is illustrated in Robert D. Jacobsen, Celestial Horses & Long Sleeve Dancers, Minneapolis, 2013, pp 220-221; see also a larger pair (71.1 cm), sold in these rooms, 23rd March 2004, lot 595.