A rare Chinese Export famille verte horse. First half 18th century
A rare Chinese Export famille verte horse. First half 18th century. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd., 2012
His carefully applied mane in green, wearing a yellow bridle; 7 in. (17.7 cm.) long. Estimate $12,000 - $18,000
Provenance: Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 25 May 1971, lot 137.
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, New York, 16 May 1975, lot 234.
With Helen McGehee Antiques, Palm Beach
Notes: The horse has been an important part of Chinese life and a favored subject for Chinese potters since the well-known tomb pottery examples of the Tang dynasty. European traders were alike drawn to the charm of porcelain horse figures, which began to appear in the Kangxi period. The modeling of this example is closer to that of the standing horses with grooms that were made a little later in the 18th century.
Christie's. Chinese Export Art. 23 January 2012. New York, Rockefeller Plaza www.christies.com