Outstanding pottery “mingqi” representing a painted pottery model of a caparisoned horse. Grey earthenware coated with white slip and remains of orange, black, green and red pigment. Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), High 38 cm, Wide 30 cm. -Note from the expert: One of the best N. wei horse we ever offer on Catawiki! Provenance: very important and old private Dutch collection, Mr. J.A.W V. , Amsterdam – A Certificate of Authenticity from Becker Antiques (specialist in Chinese pottery since 1969, Amsterdam) will accompany the item. Well modelled standing foursquare on a rectangular base, the slender curved head with crisply flared nostrils and picked ears. The arched neck painted in red with a scalloped black border to indicate the mane, the trappings including crisply detailed bridle, chest collar applied with fleurette – moulded tufts, and croupier that continues under the tail, the saddle draped with a long-flared cloth carved with fringe, with traces of white, black, red, brown and orange pigment. Note: Several examples of pottery horses identical in size, style and quality to the present caparisoned horse and all acquired in the late 1920s and early 1930s, indicate that they may all have come from the same archaeological context, compare, for instance, a caparisoned horse of the same type formerly in the collection of George Crofts and now in the collection of the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto (accession number 920.5.95), illustrated in Osvald Siren, Histoire des Arts Anciens de la Chine, vol. III, La Sculpture de l'Époque Han à l'Époque Ming, Paris and Brussels, 1930, pl.338. Another figure of this type from the collection of Henri d'Ardenne de Tizac, Paris, is published in Henri d'Ardenne de Tizac, La Sculpture Chinoise, Paris, 1931, p.29, fig.XII. Note: It will be professionally packed and safely sent in a wooden crate within 3 working days by FedEx. Shipped with Insurance! - The result of the thermoluminescence test, is consistent with the dating of the item, Northern Wei dynasty. Sampling in 3 different points - The result of the Pre-dose test is consistent with the dating of the item and the test confirms old firing without any kind of artificial x-ray treatments! Three Kingdoms, Jin Dynasty, Northern and Southern Dynasties (Six Dynasties) 220 – 589 A.D. During the Northern dynasties period, increased contact between the people of China and the northwest frontier brought about cultural exchange between the two regions. Pottery sculptures of this period show distinct influence from outside China. Sculptures of camel become increasingly common: figurines of foreigner, civil officials, horses, and warriors. Equestrian themes showing warriors mounted on armoured horses also prevailed. The types of burial figurines used during the Northern Qi dynasty were similar to those of the Northern and Eastern Wei dynasties. Warriors, attendants, musicians, dancers, and tomb guardians in the form of divine beasts constitute the bulk of the figurines but particularly interesting are the armoured horses and mounted musicians among the tomb master’s guards of honour. - A Certificate of Authenticity from Becker Antiques (specialist in Chinese pottery since 1969, Amsterdam) will accompany the item. Condition: Very good condition. Wear consistent with the age, some loss of color. Please be advised that all ancient Chinese pottery objects had been buried in tombs and are excavated from there. Therefore, they can always have some restorations. Also worth of note is that the item is more than 1600 years old. Important information. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. It will be professionally packed and safely sent in a wooden crate by FedEx. Buyers are responsible for import regulation and restrictions of their own country