Object Description
An exceptional hollow-moulded Tang Dynasty terracotta polo player statuette, portrayed bent downwards astride a horse. The female rider is sensitively painted with elongated eyes, a pointed nose, and a red dot painted onto her forehead. Her crisply carved mouth is rendered in bright red pigment, whilst her cheeks are rouged as if flushed from exertion. Her hair is gathered into a double top knot drawn-up high. Both hands are raised in fists to grasp a polo stick which they would have once held. Her garment features a tunic with a v-shaped opening and lappets, trousers, and boots. The clothing is enriched with the original white, green and orange pigments. The horse is depicted standing, powerfully-posed with legs straight, and head turned to the side in unison with its rider. Attention has been made to the curvature of the horse’s form and the muscular anatomy. The facial features have been modelled in a naturalistic manner, featuring pricked ears, an open mouth and prominent eyes, enhanced by additional red and black pigment. The tail is shown docked and bound, and the mane is brushed to one side. The green saddle is decorated with grey circles, whilst black pigment outlines the harness and bridles. The original chestnut spotted pigmentation of the horse survives largely intact, and there is a hole under the horse’s belly for firing process. The statuette stands atop a pale rectangular base.
This piece is accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report no. 03C26042024 from Kotalla Laboratory.
Date: Circa 618 – 907 AD
Period: Tang Dynasty