Ca. 618 - 907 AD. Chinese Tang Dynasty Terracotta Horse. An elegant hollow-moulded terracotta horse. This horse is modelled in a standing pose with a gracefully arched neck, a partially turned head with pricked ears and mouth agape. The horse’s musculature is rendered in great detail on the neck and hind quarters The tail is depicted docked and bound in the traditional fashion. The white slip remains, with additional pigments, such as orange and black, used to pick out details of the features, such as the trappings, the blanket and the muzzle. The horse is placed on a rectangular base. Horses were an important status symbol during the Tang ‘golden age’. They were the rewards of victorious military campaigns which lead to imperial stability and wealth. Indeed, the Tang emperors often described their favourite horses in detail commenting on their colouration, conformation and temperament. Excellent condition. Authenticated by Ralf Kotalla laboratory in Germany; report attached. Provenance: Property of a professional London art expert; obtained from an old British collection formed in the 1980s. Size: H:390mm / W:440.5mm ; 4354g