👀 RARE antique Chinese PINK NATURAL HARDSTONE JADE Carving Horse Tang style. 3 1/2” x 1 1 /2”Small but perfectly formed!!

Rare ANTIQUE CHINESE TANG DYNASTY WAR HORSE REPRODUCTION made in the late 19th century.

This listing is for the Chinese reproduction red or pink natural jade figurine of the Tang Dynasty War Horse, in a rare to find pose….This position can be found in paintings and sculptures of the War Horse dating back to the Tang Dynasty. This sculpture is a representation of one of the six horses the Chinese Emperor T'ai-tsung of the Tang Dynasty (618-908 AD) rode in his battles as described in Chinese history and literature. This particular Chinese figurine cuts a fine stance.

Very in keeping with the natural form of the horse in this pose.

The horse in the Chinese culture is symbolic with many things related to success in business and life. The horse symbolizes perseverance, hard work, strength and success through high ambition.

The horse in ancient times was usually given as a gift to the Emperor, royalty and high officials. Thoroughbred horse racing is still considered as The Sport of Kings.

This figurine cum desk weight would make a great symbolic gesture of “strength and success through high ambition” to sit on your bosses, husband’s or your desk to have or give as a gift.

MEASUREMENTS: Height 3 1/2” x 1 1/2”

CONDITION: No damage…commensurate with age.

If you need more photos or information please message me...

RESEARCH NOTES:

Tang Dynasty Horses

But it was the “golden age” of the Tang dynasty (618-907) – one of China’s most cosmopolitan periods – that the horse ascended to its iconic status.

This was the time when ideas and art flowed into China on the Silk Road along with commercial goods reflecting influences from Persia, India, Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East.

At the beginning of the Tang dynasty the government owned some 5,000 horses. Private breeding developed in northern China, especially in eastern Gansu, Shenxi and Shaanxi, when the government decreed that all militiamen, most of whom belonged to great noble families, should have their own mounts.

Before long, public stud farms were established, soon becoming so successful that by the middle of the seventh century the government owned 700,000 horses, and equine cultural reverence was assured.

Polo Games

The love of horses also spurred the adoption of the Iranian sport of polo among the Tang elite, meaning horses became among the most desirable and important creatures of the day. Poets and painters, sculptors and potters all paid homage to them. Lavish displays of pottery horses and other artefacts began to adorn the insides of tombs where brightly-coloured tomb figurines were made from low-fired earthenware and intended exclusively for burial. “The potters made an incredible range of models, including entertainers, domestic workers, mothers with children, aristocratic ladies, soldiers, farm animals, ritual objects, cosmetic boxes and utilitarian vessels,” Lark E. Mason wrote in Asian Art (Antique Collectors’ Club, 2003).

Alongside the horses, Central Asian and Türkic nomads were depicted as horse grooms among the other mingqi (tomb figures) in Tang-era tombs.

Horse Power

Advances in technology in the Tang dynasty, including the use of moulds, allowed production on an unprecedented scale.

This, in turn, made mingqi accessible to those outside the highest social ranks for the very first time, and Tang horses lost their status. While they exerted fascination among some Western collectors (see Degas’ portrayal of the painter Pierre-Joseph Redoute in front of a cabinet holding a Tang horse) it wasn’t until much later that Chinese dealers were alerted to the West’s growing fascination with them.

PLEASE READ: 

I try to describe all the items as accurately and as honestly as possible, and I always include photos or scans of the actual items. 

My items are usually vintage or antique, very rarely new, and condition will sometimes reflect this with minor marks, wear on gilding etc. 

Anything major such as cracks chips or major loss of gilding etc will be pointed out in the description and shown on the photos 

If you are still unsure as to the condition etc. please ask questions or request more pics BEFORE bidding or buying 

***Please keep in mind, I am not an expert, but an enthusiastic collector. I do my best to research the item and its history and pass that information on to my customers, you can google items and find the same information I do. Vintage or pre-owned items will often show some signs of wear due to their age, and there may be something I overlooked. There can be naturally occurring manufacturer's defects, slight surface scratching, or wear consistent with normal use. Any condition outside normal vintage wear, like chips or cracks or serious defaults, will be noted.***

POSTAGE:

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