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

Elegant Chinese collectible horse from the 1950s–1970s, entirely clad in thin bone inlays carved and finished by hand.
The animal is depicted in an upright, proud stance, with a tall neck and a mane fashioned like a fine vertical blade, clearly echoing the famous Tang-era horses, symbols of power, prestige and good fortune in Chinese tradition.

The entire body of the horse is covered by a mosaic of small bone plaques and wedges, cut into geometric shapes (triangles, rhombi, trapezoids) and placed with great precision, to create a continuous, slightly faceted surface. This decorative technique, today known in the international collecting world as “tessellated bone veneer,” is typical of mid-20th century Chinese artisan production aimed at export, where the bone covering provides luminosity and a fascinating antique patina effect. After application, the bone is polished, tinted with suitable pigments, and then finished by hand, yielding the brown, honey and ivory tones seen on the specimen.

Particularly meticulous is the ornamentation. The horse is barded with a saddle and caparison sculpted in bone and painted in the 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, also in bone, with small cabochons painted at the center; these elements recall floral decorations found on other bone horses of Chinese manufacture from the mid-century, where the carved details serve to evoke the richness of noble trappings.

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

The generous dimensions – about 37 cm in height, 39.5 cm in length and 8.8 cm in width at the maximum point – and a weight of 1,810 grams make it a significant object, a commanding presence on a sideboard, a console or a display cabinet for a collection. Statues of bone horses of comparable sizes are today presented in international galleries as mid-20th-century decorative sculptures that honor the great Tang horse tradition, appreciated by lovers of Eastern art as well as by those seeking striking furniture elements.

The horse is accompanied by its original wooden base, glossy dark brown varnished, which enhances its silhouette and facilitates display. This type of dark lacquered base is typical of mid-century Chinese production, intended for foreign markets, where horses were often sold with a dedicated support for immediate home or gallery display. 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 condition is excellent: the specimen has always been kept in its box, presents an intact surface, with no fissures, cracks or missing wedges, and shows no visible restorations. The bone maintains an even, 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. No signatures or marks are present, a common feature for this type of Chinese artisanal export production, where the focus was on the quality of workmanship rather than the signature of the maker.

Overall it is a sculpture of a bone horse of notable artisanal quality, perfectly representative of Chinese production of the 1950s–70s inspired by Tang horses. A piece important for a Wunderkammer dedicated to Eastern art, but also a furniture item capable of becoming the visual centerpiece of a contemporary setting, thanks to the contrast between the subject’s strength and the refinement of the bone veneer.

The glossy solid wood base measures 23.2 x 11.6 x 4.7 cm. Weight 400 g.

Very quickly well packed with expanded polystyrene and/or pluriball, and shipped with tracking and insurance with top shipping agencies.
The shipping cost includes shipment tracking, packaging material cost and insurance of the piece.
Due to issues with duties and customs practices, we do not ship to the USA.
Corsica to be agreed.
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