Ancient Chinese, Han dynasty Terracotta Han Sichuan Horse - TL APPROVED - 110 cm
04
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Current bid
€ 3,500
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 14,000 - € 17,000
 | €3,500 | |
|---|---|---|
| €1,000 | |
 | €600 | |
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The Han-dynasty Sichuan terracotta horse, titled “Caballo Han Sichuan- TL APROBADA”, measures 110 × 120 × 30 cm and comes with thermoluminescence documentation.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Horse; Sichuan, China, Han dynasty, 206 BC – 220 AD.
Terracotta.
Thermoluminescence dating attached.
Restoration along the fracture line in the left ear and on the forelegs. Slight loss in the front left hoof.
Measures: 110 x 120 x 30 cm.
This large-format horse sculpture with a notable sculptural presence is modeled with great volumetric force and is depicted standing, with all four legs firmly on the ground in a restrained motion, conveying a sense of dynamic stability. The head is held upright, with the mane trimmed and rising between alert ears, wide-open eyes, dilated nostrils and a prominent snout with the mouth slightly open, revealing the teeth, features that reinforce its energetic and realistic character.
These types of figures, known as mingqi (“grave goods”), were part of the funerary equipment intended to accompany the deceased in the afterlife. Their function was not decorative but symbolic and ritual: they substituted for goods, animals and servants of the earthly world, ensuring the deceased the conditions necessary for continuity in the other life. In this context, the horse held a prominent place as a symbol of status, military power and social prestige, in addition to being an essential element in the organization and expansion of the Han Empire.
The Han Dynasty is considered one of the great moments of splendor of Chinese civilization, characterized by the consolidation of imperial power, territorial expansion and intense cultural development. Through the Silk Road, contacts with Central Asia, India and other regions were strengthened, driving a notable exchange of ideas, techniques and goods. This context of openness also favored the development of religious beliefs, including Confucianism and Buddhism, as well as increasingly refined artistic production. Taken together, this horse figure not only reflects the high technical level of Han ceramics, but also a profoundly symbolic conception of funerary art, in which the representation of the animal combines realism, status and ritual function within the Chinese view of the journey to the beyond.
Seller's Story
Galería Fuentenebro emerged in 2018 to combine ancient art and contemporary art with a selection of high-quality works in a single space.
Created by art experts with more than fifteen years of experience specialized in Archaeology, Antiquities of the s. XX and in the last great styles of the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and Art Decó. In 2019 he creates a space in Madrid combining masterpieces from different eras in a single eclectic and different space.
We search and select the best pieces to introduce the international market trends in Spain.
Translated by Google TranslateHorse; Sichuan, China, Han dynasty, 206 BC – 220 AD.
Terracotta.
Thermoluminescence dating attached.
Restoration along the fracture line in the left ear and on the forelegs. Slight loss in the front left hoof.
Measures: 110 x 120 x 30 cm.
This large-format horse sculpture with a notable sculptural presence is modeled with great volumetric force and is depicted standing, with all four legs firmly on the ground in a restrained motion, conveying a sense of dynamic stability. The head is held upright, with the mane trimmed and rising between alert ears, wide-open eyes, dilated nostrils and a prominent snout with the mouth slightly open, revealing the teeth, features that reinforce its energetic and realistic character.
These types of figures, known as mingqi (“grave goods”), were part of the funerary equipment intended to accompany the deceased in the afterlife. Their function was not decorative but symbolic and ritual: they substituted for goods, animals and servants of the earthly world, ensuring the deceased the conditions necessary for continuity in the other life. In this context, the horse held a prominent place as a symbol of status, military power and social prestige, in addition to being an essential element in the organization and expansion of the Han Empire.
The Han Dynasty is considered one of the great moments of splendor of Chinese civilization, characterized by the consolidation of imperial power, territorial expansion and intense cultural development. Through the Silk Road, contacts with Central Asia, India and other regions were strengthened, driving a notable exchange of ideas, techniques and goods. This context of openness also favored the development of religious beliefs, including Confucianism and Buddhism, as well as increasingly refined artistic production. Taken together, this horse figure not only reflects the high technical level of Han ceramics, but also a profoundly symbolic conception of funerary art, in which the representation of the animal combines realism, status and ritual function within the Chinese view of the journey to the beyond.
Seller's Story
Galería Fuentenebro emerged in 2018 to combine ancient art and contemporary art with a selection of high-quality works in a single space.
Created by art experts with more than fifteen years of experience specialized in Archaeology, Antiquities of the s. XX and in the last great styles of the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and Art Decó. In 2019 he creates a space in Madrid combining masterpieces from different eras in a single eclectic and different space.
We search and select the best pieces to introduce the international market trends in Spain.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Culture
Ancient Chinese, Han dynasty
Century/timeframe
Dinastía Han, 206 a. C. - 220 a. C.
Name of object
Han Sichuan Horse - TL APPROVED
Acquired from
Gallery / Antique dealer
Year acquired
2023
Material
Terracotta
Country acquired from
Spain
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Height
110 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
2022
Width
120 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
France
Depth
30 cm
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
