Ancient Chinese, Han dynasty Terracotta Han Sichuan Horse - TL APPROVED

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.

Estimate:$15,619.25

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