Standing Caparisoned Pottery Horse
Sculptural Tomb Figure (Mingqi) • Unknown workshop (after the style of Han Dynasty pottery)
Style & Movement
Ancient Chinese Funerary Art (Mingqi Style)
Medium & Technique
Hand-modelled or mold-pressed gray earthenware (pottery) with carved details and traces of cold-applied pigments/slips
Creation Period
Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 9 CE) or Southern Dynasties style; likely a 20th-century decorative reproduction
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12-16 inches in height; three-dimensional freestanding sculpture
Subject Description
A standing horse on a rectangular base, depicting a domesticated animal with a saddle blanket (caparison) featuring circular patterns. The horse has pricked ears, an arched neck, and rigid legs, symbolizing status and transportation in the afterlife.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; the surface shows intentional distressing to mimic archaeological patina and age-related calcification
Estimated Market Value
$200 - $600 USD (as a decorative reproduction); $5,000 - $15,000 if authenticated as Han Dynasty
Auction Estimate
$150 - $400 USD (Decorative arts category)
Provenance History
Unknown; likely acquired as a decorative object or through the modern antiques market
Art Historical Significance
As a style, it represents the Han Dynasty's shift toward secular tomb offerings intended to provide for the deceased. As a modern object, it reflects the 20th-century global fascination with and replication of Silk Road archaeological finds.
Notable Features
Incised saddle details featuring a star or floral-ring motif; gray clay body characteristic of northern Chinese kiln sites; integral rectangular plinth.
Condition Issues
Visible surface abrasions, deliberate 'earth' encrustations, hair-line cracks on the base, and minor losses to the ear tips
Conservation Recommendations
Dust with a soft brush only; avoid chemical cleaners which may strip the applied 'aged' patina; maintain in a low-humidity environment to prevent clay degradation.