Object Description
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