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Figurine

This object is On Display
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Object Number:C469
Current Location: Asia Galleries
Currently On Display
Culture:Chinese
Provenience: China
Period: Tang Dynasty
Date Made: Tang Dynasty
Early Date: 618
Late Date: 906
Section:Asian
Materials:Ceramic
Pigment
Technique:Painted
Unglazed
Fired
Iconography:Horse
Credit Line:Purchased from C. T. Loo, 1925

Description

Painted pottery horse richly caparisoned. The saddle cloth is painted to represent brocade borders. This horse would have been placed in tombs with other objects that were important to take into the afterlife. The Bactrian horse, depicted here, with slender legs and a massive body, was imported from the greater Iran area. Replacing the small and stocky Mongolian breeds, the Bactrian became the favorite among royalty. There were likely harnesses and riding gear in the figures' original state, along with real horsehair for the mane and tail. The piece is made of fine white clay which has not been glazed. It was painted in unfired pigments.

Current & Past Exhibitions:

China Gallery (22 Feb 2017) View Objects in Exhibition
Chinese Rotunda (1968 - 22 Feb 2017) View Objects in Exhibition

Bibliography:

[Article] Fernald, Helen E. 1925. "Mortuary Figures of the T'ang Dynasty". The Museum Journal. Philadelphia. The University Museum. Vol. XVI. no. No. 3. pg. 153-181 Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: pg. 160-161View Objects related to this Actual Citation

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