China, a handsome painted pottery horse, terracotta,measures: 52.5cm, 21″ high and 45cm, 18″ in length and 20cm, 8″ in width, Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE).

The large vigorous and powerful steed standing four square and with pricked
ears, eyes, nose, cropped tail, slightly opened jaw with a smooth backside and legs restored and exhibiting varying degrees of remnant vermilion and white poly chrome bridle about the head .

A “Thermoluminescence test (TL test) certificate No. 22K300316” which accompanies this horse authenticates its genuine age from China’s Han dynasty.

Provenance: Old New York Collection acquired in the 1990s.

History:
History indicates that the first domesticated horses originated in the Eurasion steppes about 4000 BCE and were known in China some one thousand years later. China’s ancient appetite for horses caused Han emperor Wudi to dispatch Zhang Qian to the Central Asian Kingdom of Ferghana (Persia) to seek larger and more powerful horses than the conventional Mongolian
pony. It was approximately at this time that Zhang described them as heavenly horses (tianma) and devine horses (shenma) thereby causing Wudi to dispatch General Li Guangli to secure a supply of these increasingly valuable assets. In opening up the silk road, east-west trading began in
earnest and silk was offered for horses! By the Tang dynasty, large parts of Central Asia had been conquered, trading flourished, and exotic goods procurement including horse supply was ensured.

Schneible Fine Arts has been dealing in authentic Chinese and Japanese antiquities, garden ornaments, lanterns and water basins for twenty five years. Mr. Schneible personally travels to China and Japan each year to meet his network partners who assist him in finding best examples. He personally inspects each antique work of art to ensure its old age, authenticity, and quality condition.