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THBChinese Han Dynasty Polychrome Horse and Groom
Lot 62
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$3,600 - $5,400
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Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
May 25, 2023
Set Reminder
2023-05-25 10:00:00
2023-05-25 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : ON-SALE! Antiquities, Pre-Columbian, Ethno, Fine Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/on-sale-antiquities-pre-columbian-ethno-fine-art-12860
ON-SALE Antiquities, Pre-Columbian, Ethno, More! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
ON-SALE Antiquities, Pre-Columbian, Ethno, More! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (278)
- Lot Description
East Asia, China, Han dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A wonderful pair of pottery figures, a groom and a horse, both rendered in fine, naturalistic detail. The handsome gentleman presents a slender body dressed in a long-sleeved robe that flares out at his knees beneath a dotted vest. Gazing forth from slender eyes above a broad nose and straight mouth, his expression is both calm and dignified, as he holds out his hand, presumably to grasp the reins of his noble steed. Alternatively, the horse presents a thick body with skillfully delineated hooves and musculature. His long snout extends forward displaying a slightly open mouth and delineated nostrils beneath bulbous eyes and pointed ears. A short mane rises up from the curve of his long neck. Size of larger (horse): 12.4" L x 3.3" W x 11.6" H (31.5 cm x 8.4 cm x 29.5 cm)
During this period of Chinese history, horses came from the Ferghama Valley in Central Asia - present day Afghanistan. When elite individuals passed away, large "walking" terracotta Ferghama horses displaying an immense degree of attention to detail, like this example, were created to carry the deceased into the hereafter. The horse, second only in importance to the dragon, was believed to possess magical powers. The number of horses owned by an individual ensured his high status in the afterlife.
Tomb statues like this horse are part of a class of artifacts called mingqi - sometimes known as "spirit utensils" or "vessels for ghosts." They became popular in the Han Dynasty and would persist for several centuries. Alongside figures like this one were musicians, athletes, animals, structures? Even though they were mass produced, mingqi of the Han Dynasty often show a high level of detail and naturalism. These were designed to assist the po, the part of the soul of the deceased that remained underground with the body while the hun, the other part of the soul, ascended. Caring for the po seems to have taken on a new level of meaning in the Han period, with more elaborate rituals and tomb construction arising.
Provenance: private Vero Beach, Florida, USA collection, acquired before 2003
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
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#177409Professional repair and restoration to horse and arms of groom with repainting over break lines. Both have expected minor chips, nicks, and abrasions, but otherwise have an excellent presentation with nice remaining pigments and detail.Condition
- Shipping Info
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