Rare Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse HeadPeriod: Han Dynasty (206 Bce – 220 Ce)

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Rare Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse HeadPeriod: Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE)
Material: Terracotta / Unglazed Earthenware … Read more Rare Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse HeadPeriod: Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE)
Material: Terracotta / Unglazed Earthenware with original pigments
Condition: Excellent antiquarian condition. Retains exceptionally vivid traces of original red and white slip pigments. Features expected age-related weathering, minor chips, and surface abrasions. The ears—originally cast separately—are absent, which is typical for excavated fragments of this era. Beautifully mounted on a custom clear acrylic display stand.DescriptionAn exceptional and highly expressive example of ancient Chinese mingqi (tomb pottery), depicting the head of a Central Asian "Heavenly Horse." Prized by the Han imperial court for their military prowess and spiritual significance, these majestic creatures were frequently immortalized in funerary art to accompany the elite into the afterlife.This mold-made terracotta sculpture showcases masterful hand-modeled refinement. The horse is captured in an alert, dynamic posture, featuring aggressively flared nostrils, prominent bulging eyes, and an open mouth that reveals individual sculpted teeth. The neck tapers downward into a clean break line, indicating its original detachment from a full-bodied modular figure.The piece boasts an unusually high concentration of surviving polychrome pigments, with deep red hues accentuating the muscle structure and white slip defining the facial contours. A striking centerpiece for collectors of early Asian art, classical antiquities, or fine sculptural design. See less