Lot 165, Auction 4/3/2026: Chinese Han Dynasty Polychrome Horse & Rider Figure

$650.00

In stock

East Asia, China, Han Dynasty, ca. 206 BCE to 220 CE. A pottery horse and rider like this carries the quiet pulse of the Han frontier, where cavalry units stitched the empire together and riders vanished into dust kicked up by their own mounts. Fashioned from earthenware and brushed with traces of red and white pigment, the figure captures both the solidity of military presence and the soft, lived-in charm of a tomb companion. The horse, modeled with muscular haunches and an alert, tapering head, stands in a steady four-square pose. Its body retains sweeping painted arcs across the flanks, the remnants of a boldly patterned saddle cloth once meant to enliven the sculpture with color. The rider sits upright, his legs straight against the horse’s ribs in the distinctive Han posture for mounted figures. He wears a fitted belted tunic, still touched with red pigment, and a close-fitting cap that lends his silhouette a crisp, almost ceremonial appearance. Size: 11.5″ L x 3.5″ W x 12.3″ H (29.2 cm x 8.9 cm x 31.2 cm)

His hands, curled forward, would originally have held reins now lost to time.

Such equestrian figures accompanied the deceased into the afterlife, serving as emblems of status, mobility, and protection. Horses held profound significance in Han culture, representing not only military strength but also the power to traverse physical and spiritual distances. Archaeological finds from the period show that entire cavalries could be recreated in miniature, each mount and rider rendered with a blend of functional clarity and quiet individuality.

The present example preserves that blend beautifully. The surface wear, softened details, and fading pigments all testify to long burial, yet the sculpture retains the vigor of its original modeling. Seen today, it stands not only as a funerary object but as a distilled portrait of Han aspiration: movement, authority, and the enduring partnership between horse and rider.

Condition: Missing reins and lower portion of proper back right leg. Professionally repaired and restored with repainting over some break lines and other break lines visible. Incised mark above proper front right leg. Nicks and abrasions to surface, commensurate with age. Nice remaining pigments.

Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all purchases.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.