Ancient Chinese, Northern Wei Terracotta Ancient Chinese Terracotta Horse and Rider – Northern Wei Dynasty (4th–5th Century AD) – 36.5 cm – - 36.5 cm (No reserve price)

Important polychrome terracotta funerary equestrian group from Ancient China, depicting a mounted rider, attributed to the Six Dynasties / Wei dynasties period, circa 4th–5th century CE.

The sculpture, 36.5 cm high, 26.5 cm wide and weighing 2.23 kilograms, features a powerfully modeled horse, posed on a rectangular base, bearing a rider dressed in a long tunic and wearing a characteristic headdress.

The ensemble preserves significant traces of ancient polychromy in red, ochre, cream and gray-brown. The highly graphic treatment of the horse’s head, its large circular eyes, the deliberately stylized silhouette of the animal and the austere, hieratic bearing of the rider give this piece a particularly strong presence.

This type of sculpture belongs to the Chinese Mingqi tradition – funerary objects made to accompany the deceased in the afterlife. Representations of riders gain particular importance during the centuries corresponding to the Six Dynasties and the Northern Dynasties, a period marked by the increasing role of cavalry in society and in funeral iconography.

The piece is accompanied by a substantial thermoluminescence report from Labor Ralf Kotalla, Germany, dated 26 February 2001, report no. 010243.

The laboratory performed four samplings directly from the object:

– the base ;
– the right leg ;
– the horse’s chin ;
– the rider’s back.

The result concludes that the terracotta is “fired in antiquity” and estimates the last firing at 1,650 years ± 170 years before the date of analysis.

This scientific dating places the firing of the terracotta within a range compatible with late antique China and the Six Dynasties period.

The report explicitly identifies the object as a “Reiterfigur aus gebranntem Ton” – a terracotta rider figure – from China. The original photograph of the object appears on the certificate, enabling direct identification.

Dimensions

Height: 35.5 cm
Depth: approximately 27 cm
Width: 11 cm
Weight: 2.232 kg

Condition:

Good overall condition given its age.

Surface wear, losses of polychromy, deposits, small gaps, cracks and irregularities consistent with age and archaeological nature of the object.

High-definition photographs are an integral part of the description and allow precise assessment of the conservation state.

Authentication:

Thermoluminescence report Ralf Kotalla
Report no. 010243
Date: 26 February 2001
Result: fired in antiquity
TL dating: 1,650 years ± 170 years
Four samplings taken from different parts of the object.

The original illustrated report will be handed to the purchaser with the sculpture.

Provenance:

China.

Former European private collection.

Professionally packed with particular care, suitable for an archaeological terracotta.

Tracked and insured shipment during transit.