Sancai pottery equestrian group, Tang dynasty, 618-906. Photo courtesy Marchant

the seated figure covered in a green glaze with chestnut lapels and unglazed head, original blackpigment cap and hairwork, hands raised to hold the reins, seated on a three-colour splashed saddlecloth, the piebald horse with cream glazed body and green splashes on the neck and hind quarters, original black pigment outlines to the bridle and strappings, the hooves with chestnut splashes. 39.2cm high. Price on request

• Formerly in a Japanese private collection.
• A similar model in the Idemitsu Bijutsukan Museum, Tokyo is illustrated in Chinese Ceramics in the Idemitsu Collection, 1987, no. 367.
• The result of thermoluminescence test certificate no. C113j25 Oxford Authentication Ltd. is consistent with the above dating.

Marchant. 'Chinese Ceramics Tang to Qing' exhibiting tuesday 6th may - friday 30th may 2014 - http://www.marchantasianart.com/