Chinese Tang Dynasty Terracotta Horse Figurine with Detachable ‘Fat Lady’ Rider

£ 4,750.00

A very fine Chinese hollow-mould terracotta figurine of a female equestrian rider dating to the Tang period. The horse is portrayed in an active pose, powerfully advancing forward with its neck gracefully arched and looking backwards. The facial features have been modelled in a naturalistic manner, featuring pricked ears, an open mouth and prominent eyes painted in black pigment. The musculature is well defined, and most of the original brown slip remains. Additional red and black pigments define the ears and mouth, as well as a neatly groomed mane. The tail is shown docked and bound with a ribbon.

On the horseback is a detachable black saddle sitting upon a pink saddle-cloth, which is adorned with black undulating lines resembling animal skin. A ‘fat lady’ court attendant is perched on top of the saddle, holding onto the edge of it whilst slightly tilting her head to the left. She is wearing a long turquoise robe with a high black waistband and an orange upper garment tucked inside, known as a Qixiong Ruqun (齐胸襦裙). The richly draped sleeves conceal her hands, and she is wearing black riding boots. Her hair is gathered into a Cong Ji (丛髻, the cluster coiffure) with a red headband. Both her garment and hairstyle were symbolic of the Tang Dynasty. The lady’s face is sensitively moulded with full cheeks, a small, dimpled chin, delicately carved mouth and nose, and elongated eyes. The lips are painted in bright red and the cheeks with a light rouge-coloured pigment, rendering an attractive representation of rosy skin.

The piece is accompanied by a positive Kotalla Laboratory thermoluminescence report, no.06C26042024.

Date: Circa AD 618-907
Period: Tang Dynasty
Provenance: Acquired 1990s. West Country, UK, collection.
Condition: Very fine condition, with much of the original pigments still remain brightly visible to the surface. Some signs of wear and some mild earthly encrustations. Height and weight of the horse alone; 29.5cm, 2.85kg.

In stock

SKU: CY-237 Category: Tags: , , ,

Horses were important during the Tang Dynasty and were both the reward of successful military expeditions and the foundation of imperial stability. Brought to China by means of the international Silk Road trade network, horses were also a sign of wealth, with strict laws in place limiting the use of horses to people of a certain rank, and even those serving in the military had to provide their own mount.

The emergence of the ‘Court Fat Lady’ as a popular image of Chinese identity first made its appearance under the Zhou Dynasty, which briefly interrupted the Tang Dynasty. Women were romanticised and heroised. They were liberated in all sense of the word. Previously, the taste for women, especially concubines, had steered towards slim and slight women. The new Tang Dynasty fashion preferred the more buxom figure. Plump women of the high court were enjoying their heyday. They were represented in art and poetry and became popular in the royal household. It is said that the most famous of Court lady, Yang Guifei, the consort of Emperor Xuanzong (r. 712-756) set the fashion for ladies of ample form. Clothing and fashions accommodated Yang’s more mature figure and for the first time, long, loose fitting robes with high necklines became court fashion, accompanied by elaborate hairstyles.

To discover more about Chinese horse statuettes, please visit our relevant blog post:  The Horse in Chinese Culture and Art

To discover more about Tang Dynasty ‘Fat Lady’ statuettes, please visit our relevant collection page: The Importance of the Fat Lady in Chinese Tang Art.

Weight 4050 g
Dimensions L 39 x W 14.5 x H 43 cm
Culture

Region

Pottery and Porcelain

Reference: For a similar item,Sotheby’s, ‘China / 5000 Years’ Auction, 1st December 2022, Lot 725

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