Αλογο Οστό - cavallo - 37 cm - 8.8 cm - 39.5 cm- Είδη που δεν ανήκουν στο CITES

Elegant Chinese horse for collection, produced between the 1950s and 1970s of the 20th century, entirely coated with thin inlaid bone pieces carved and finished by hand.
The animal is depicted in an upright, proud position, with a high neck and the mane rendered as a vertical finely ribbed blade, in clear reference to the famous horses of the Tang era, a symbol of power, prestige and good fortune in Chinese tradition.

The entire body of the horse is covered by a “mosaic” of small bone plates and plugs, cut into geometric shapes (triangles, diamonds, trapezoids) and placed with great precision, until a continuous and slightly faceted surface is created. This particular decorative technique, today known in international collector circles as “tessellated bone veneer”, is typical of Chinese artisanal production of the mid-20th century aimed at export, where the bone coating provides brightness and a fascinating antique patina effect.
After application, the bone is polished, tinted with suitable pigments and then hand-finished, thus achieving the brown, honey and ivory tones visible on the specimen.

Particularly careful is the ornamentation.
The horse is barded with a saddle and barding sculpted in bone and painted in tones of golden yellow, green and blue, with vegetal motifs and sinuous borders that frame the surfaces like embroidery.
On the croup stand floral rosettes carved in relief, still in bone, with small cabochons painted at the center; these elements recall the floral decorations present on other bone horses of Chinese manufacture from the mid-century, where the carved details serve to evoke the wealth of noble barding.

Around the neck and on the thighs runs a collar-like band, also in worked bone, from which small metallic bells and ornamental bows carved in bone hang: these pendants, emblematic of “parade” horses of courts, accentuate the movement of the whole and reveal the artisan’s hand in the rendering of shapes and folds.
The snout features golden lines that define the bit and the bridle, with black eyes and rosy lips to give expressiveness; the ears and some details are highlighted with strokes of vivid red, creating a nice contrast with the warm polychromy of the bone.

The generous dimensions – about 37 cm high, 39.5 cm long and 8.8 cm wide at the maximum point – and a weight of 1,810 grams make it an important object, with scenographic presence on a sideboard, a console or a collection display case.
Statues of bone horses of comparable size are today exhibited in international galleries as mid-20th-century decorative sculptures that honour the great Tang horse tradition, appreciated by both oriental art lovers and those seeking striking furniture elements.

The horse is accompanied by its original wooden base, glossy dark brown in tone, which enhances its silhouette and facilitates display.
This type of dark lacquered base is typical of mid-century Chinese production, intended for the foreign market, where horses were often sold with a dedicated support to be displayed immediately at home or in a gallery.
The base is included in the lot as an accessory, but the object retains a strong sculptural character even when placed directly on a shelf.

The conservation status is excellent: the specimen has always been kept in its box, presents an intact surface, without fissures, cracks or missing plugs, and shows no visible restorations.
The bone maintains a uniform and pleasant patina, with minimal signs of time compatible with age and decorative use, aspects that for collectors are part of the charm of these objects.
There are no signatures or marks, a typical element for this type of Chinese artisanal manufacturing intended for export, where attention was focused on the quality of the work rather than the signature of the executor.

Overall this is a bone horse sculpture of notable artisanal quality, perfectly representative of Chinese production of the 1950s–1970s inspired by Tang horses.
An important piece for a Wunderkammer dedicated to Eastern art, but also a furniture object capable of becoming the visual centerpiece of a contemporary environment, thanks to the contrast between the strength of the subject and the refinement of the bone veneer.

The base in full wood, glossy finish, measures 23.2 x 11.6 x 4.7 cm, Weight 400 g.

Quickly very well packed with polystyrene and/or pluriball, and shipped with tracking and insurance with the best shipping agencies.
In the shipping cost is included the shipment tracking, the packaging material cost and the insurance of the work.
Due to customs duties issues and procedures, we do not ship to the U.S.A.
Corsica to be arranged.
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