H. 29 cm (11.4 inches)
Provenance: from a French private collection
Seated side-saddle on a horse with head turned and holding a vase, possibly for use as a candleholder. She wears a white robe with ample sleeves flowered in pink and gold. The horse, which is flat-backed and pierced for suspension, is dappled in purple with a brown tail.
An almost identical figure was in the Mottahedeh Collection, published by David Howard and John Ayers in China For the West, 1977, Tome II, p. 616, no. 646.
In ancient China, especially during the Tang Dynasty, women riding horses had significant cultural and social meanings, reflecting a shift in societal norms and the growing involvement of women in various aspects of life. This practice was not limited to elite women but also became a common social custom, with depictions of female riders in tomb art, figurines, and literature indicating their increasing presence in public and social spheres.
By the Tang Dynasty, horse riding had become a fashion and a part of daily life for aristocrat women, as evidenced by documentary records and tomb figurines.
Even in later periods, such as the Qing Dynasty, horses and archery were considered crucial aspects of statehood, as seen in the Mulan Camp and the legacy of Hua Mulan, a female hero known for her bravery on horseback.
A rare and large wall vase
depicting a lady riding a horse
ceramic, pigment
China
Qianlong period (1736-1795)
circa 1770-1790
#china #qianlong #chineseceramics #vase #womanonhorseback #culture #art #craft #chineseantiques
