Gongxian region, Henan province Early Tang dynasty, late 7th century Red horse - Height: 50 cm. Wide: 45 cm. White horse – Height: 48 cm. Wide 48 cm. Both with custom made luxurious iron stand, painted in black. Very secure. Provenance: private collection, The Netherlands Asian art market. Nationalistically modellen, without harnesses or saddle, these striking horses each on three legs with the right front legs raising high in unison as if dancing. The figures are virtually identical, with heads pulled back and turned to the left and right featuring flared nostrils, an open mouth with bared teeth, and inset eyes. The long flowing manes are molded in a luxurious ripple pattern, with thick forelocks parted on centre between the picked ears. Both tails are docked, wrapped, and tied in the early – Tang style. The expressive facial features, including red mouths and black pupils, ears, and nostrils, are detailed in unglazed pigments. The body of one horse is painted white, while the second figure is left entirely red, with the exception of its white hooves and white mane. The head and neck, like the torsos, of each figure are molded in two sections and seamed on centre. The legs and tails, molded separately, were attached to the torso and base while still pliant. Its appears that the decorative manes were pressed from a shallow mold and appliqued in place. The smooth, seamless contours and details like the ears and forelock required careful hand-modelling. Note: It will be professionally packed and safely sent in a wooden crate within 3 working days by FedEx. Shipped with Insurance! Our Guarantee: The above item is guaranteed to be of the time period and condition as described, has been purchased legally and is legal to buy and sell under all international laws to cultural patrimony. - All items legal to buy/sell under The Netherlands covering cultural patrimony, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. - The results of the thermoluminescence tests, are consistent with the dating of the items, Tang dynasty. Sampling in 6 different points - The result of the Pre-dose test is consistent with the dating of the items and the test confirms old firing without any kind of artificial x-ray treatments! Additional Information: Tang Dynasty National unification during the Tang dynasty brought about centuries of social stability and economic prosperity. Ceramic art evolved further towards maturity and important kiln centres emerge across the country. The repertoire of mortuary objects in Tang tombs closely followed those of earlier periods. The majority was still made of pottery clay and came in many forms and styles, which illustrate the evolution and traits of Tang ceramic art. These objects can broadly be divided into five categories namely tomb guardians, guards of honour, attendants, animals, and utilitarian wares. Tang dynasty tomb figures are pottery figures of people and animals made in the Tang dynasty of China (618–906) as grave goods to be placed in tombs. There was a belief that the figures represented would become available for the service of the deceased in the afterlife. The figures are made of moulded earthenware with colour generally being added, though often not over the whole figure, or in naturalistic places. Where the colouring was in paint it has often not survived, but in many cases, it was in sancai ("three-colour") ceramic glaze, which has generally lasted well. The figures, called mingqui in Chinese, were most often of servants, soldiers (in male tombs) and attendants such as dancers and musicians, with many no doubt representing courtesans. In burials of people of high rank there may be soldiers and officials as well. The animals are most often horses, but there are surprising numbers of both Bactrian camels and their Central Asian drivers, distinguished by thick beards and hair, and their facial features. The depictions are realistic to a degree unprecedented in Chinese art, and the figures give archaeologists much useful information about life under the Tang. There are also figures of the imaginary monster "earth spirits" and the fearsome human Lokapala (or tian wang), both usually in pairs and acting as tomb guardians to repel attacks by both spirits and humans. Sets of the twelve imaginary beasts of the Chinese Zodiac are also found, usually unglazed. The most common animals, and the most likely to be large and carefully modelled and decorated, are horses and camels. Both sorts range from animals without harness and saddlery to those with elaborately detailed trappings, and carrying riders or, in the case of camels, heavy loads of goods. The graceful ladies with plump faces and bodies (so called Fat ladies), the smartly dressed civil officials, the mighty warriors, the horses with saddles and accessories, as well as camels and non - Chinese figurines are all results of the potter’s keen observation and superb virtuosity. They allow us to visualise life in China more than a millennium ago. - A Certificate of Authenticity from Becker Antiques (specialist in Chinese pottery since 1969, Amsterdam) will accompany the item. Condition: Very good condition. Wear consistent with the age, some loss of color. Please be advised that all ancient Chinese pottery objects had been buried in tombs and are excavated from there. Therefore, they can always have some restorations. Also worth of note is that the item is more than 1200 years old. Important information. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. It will be professionally packed and safely sent in a wooden crate by FedEx. Buyers are responsible for import regulation and restrictions of their own country.