马 骨 - cavallo - 37 cm - 8.8 cm - 39.5 cm- 非《濒危物种公约》物种

Elegant Chinese horse for collection, produced between the 1950s and 1970s of the 20th century, entirely clad in thin inlay pieces of carved bone and finished by hand.
The animal is depicted in an upright, proud stance, with a high neck and a mane rendered as a vertical finely grooved blade, clearly echoing the famous Tang-era horses, 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 tiles, cut into geometric shapes (triangles, rhombuses, trapezoids) and placed with great precision to create a continuous, slightly faceted surface.
This decorative technique, today internationally known in the collecting world as “tessellated bone veneer,” is typical of mid-20th century Chinese artisanal production intended for export, where the bone veneer provides luminosity and a fascinating antique patina effect.
After application, the bone is polished, stained with suitable pigments and then finished by hand to obtain the brown, honey and ivory tones seen on the specimen.

The ornamentation is particularly refined.
The horse is barded with saddle and surcingle sculpted in bone and painted in shades 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, always in bone, with small cabochons painted in the center; these elements recall the floral decorations on other bone horses of Chinese manufacture from the mid-century, where the carved details evoke the richness of noble barding.

Around the neck and on the thighs runs a collar-like band, also in worked bone, from which small metal bells and ornamental bows carved in bone hang: these hangings, emblematic of “parade” horses of courts, accentuate the overall movement and reveal the artisan’s hand in the shaping of forms and folds.
The snout features golden lines that define the bit and bridle, with black eyes and pink lips to give expressiveness; the ears and some details are highlighted with touches of vivid red, creating a beautiful 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 widest point – and a weight of 1,810 grams make it an important object, visually impressive on a sideboard, console or showcase for a collection.
Similar-sized bone horse statues are today presented in international galleries as mid-20th century decorative sculptures that pay homage to the great Tang horse tradition, appreciated by both lovers of Eastern art and those seeking bold home décor elements.

The horse is accompanied by its original wooden plinth, lacquered in a dark brown shade, 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 display at home or in a gallery.
The plinth 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, features an intact surface, with no cracks, fissures or missing tiles, and shows no visible restorations.
The bone retains 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 common feature for this type of artisanal Chinese export workmanship, where the focus was on the quality of work rather than the signature of the maker.

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

The wooden plinth, solid and with a glossy finish, measures 23.2 x 11.6 x 4.7 cm; weight 400 g.

Quickly well packed with polystyrene and/or bubble wrap, and shipped with tracking and insurance through top shipping agencies.
Shipping cost includes shipment tracking, packing material and insurance for the artwork.
Due to customs duties and procedures, we do not ship to the USA.
Corsica to be arranged.
This listing was prepared “also” with the help of Artificial Intelligence. (data checked and cross-referenced with images and web research)