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tang pottery horse

by DeWayne K
(sidney ,ohio right now)

I have many pics from inch to inch.I think you'll need to see more.if u do just let me know.Thanks

I have many pics from inch to inch.I think you'll need to see more.if u do just let me know.Thanks

Peter,just by viewing,a lot of items as much a as you have. Is it pos- for you just by viewing it to give a percentage rate of it being authentic? I'm stuck on this,who these pieces came from was an expert in this field but in his lifetime their were no fancy test like thermolum-testing@such.I just wish that the woman that wanted it (prettier) would have just left it like it was! I'm no big time collector just some one that loves this art even though it all just fell into my lap. I never once thought about parting with any of it. Life blind sides us sometimes. So what's your take on this piece.

Comments for tang pottery horse

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Jan 18, 2012
 tang sancai horse
by: peter

As I mentioned, I do not know enough about Tang wares to be able to verify if your item is authentic. So, the below is is my personal view. Please ask for a second opinion.

The Tang dynasty is mostly known for its sancai (tri-colored) wares, but many people may not be aware that Tang dynasty sancai wares were produced exclusively "for the dead". All Tang sancai wares are burial ware and were put into the tombs of the deceased. I was told that some Tang sancai wares may look very new when excavated, if the tomb was never disturbed.

As burial ware, sancai wares were usually not elaborately decorated; this is partially also due to the state of decorative techniques at the time. The fact that it has an intricate decoration that looks as if it is either painted with gilt or made of metal makes me suspicious.

Decorations in the sense of painted multicolored decorations did not come into existence until much later, it seems. In other words, decorations weren't usually painted on, but color was applied by other methods, like pouring colored glazes over the item.
So, intricate decorations would have been difficult to color neatly in a specific color, as is the case with bridle and saddle of your horse.
With other words, this horse was artistically decorated in a manner that is unlikely with the Tang dynasty.

For comparison purposes I would look only at Tang horses in well-known museums with Chinese collections. There are too many new and fake Tang sancai items produced even now.

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