We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of NSW stands.

Title

Horse

618 CE-907 CE

Artists

Unknown Artist

  • Details

    Place where the work was made
    China
    Period
    Tang dynasty 618 - 907 → China
    Date
    618 CE-907 CE
    Media category
    Ceramic
    Materials used
    earthenware
    Dimensions
    64.0 x 72.5 x 22.5 cm
    Signature & date

    Not signed. Not dated.

    Credit
    Gift of Lady Drysdale 1987
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    434.1987
    Copyright

    Reproduction requests

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  • About

    This handsome sculptural piece is one of the 'mingqi' funerary pieces placed in Chinese tombs to accompany the deceased in the after-life. The horse is one of the esteemed "blood-sweating" horses from Ferghana to the West of China. Such steeds were much admired by the Chinese and became a sort of status symbol, with the importance of the deceased being reflected in the number and size of such 'mingqi' horses in his tomb.

    Asian Art Dept., AGNSW, 11 June 1987.

    Literature: S G Valenstein 'A handbook of Chinese ceramics', The Metrolpolitan Museum of Art, New York 1975.

  • Places

    Where the work was made

    China