Lot 162. A pair of painted pottery figures of horses and riders, Sui-Early Tang dynasty. Height of taller 22 in., 55.9 cm. Estimate 20,000 — 30,000 USD. Lot sold 25,000 USD. Photo: Sotheby's.

each horse standing foursquare on a rectangular base, one with head held high and slightly turned, the other with the head somewhat lowered, the well-modeled bodies with carefully incised details, one with the mane docked, the other with a long mane falling to one side, both with tails bound, each animal supporting a male rider astride a saddle, dressed in wide-legged pants, layered robes and a close-fitted hood, the hands raised as if to tug on reins, traces of white slip and red pigment (2). 

Provenance: Collection of Ludwig F.M. Schulze and Ruth Baylies Schulze (1907-1986), New York.

Notes: Equestrian figures of this form, with the rider depicted wearing similar hoods and with arms held out as if to pull the reins, were probably part of a hunting group. Figures of this type were popular during the Tang dynasty and were an essential part of all tomb retinues. See a related pair of equestrian figures, from the collection of J. Ritchie, London, illustrated in Mario Prodan, The Art of the T'ang Potter, London, 1960, pl. 31; and two glazed examples wearing similar helmets published in Luoyang Tang sancai, Beijing, 1980, pls. 30-31.

The result of Laboratory Ralf Kotalla, Haigerloch, Germany, thermoluminescence test nos. DE 0804111 and DE 0804112 are consistent with the dating of this lot.

Sotheby's. Important Chinese Works of Art, New York, 17 mars 2015, 02:00 PM