Horse Figure

About this object

Narrative

20th century "Tang style" horse. Purchased by the donor from Chung’s Arts Product, Hong Kong, in 1989.

Specific techniques

Sancai (三彩, “three colours”) is a style of ceramic using three intermingled glaze colours for decoration. The glaze colours are not limited to three, but are predominantly brown, green and a creamy off-white. The sancai technique originated during the Tang dynasty and is associated with Tang tomb figures, so it is often referred to as Tang Sancai (唐三彩).

Physical description

Pottery horse with partial sancai (three colour) glaze. Off-white standing horse with the saddle area and nose glazed in sancai colours of red and amber. The horse's head is slightly turned to the left, and it wears a green saddle on a chestnut coloured blanket. Red decorations across saddle. Predominantly unglazed body with areas of chestnut brown on the nose and forehead, and green and brown on the saddle. The horse is standing four-square on a rectangular base and has a short tail. Body is hollow.