Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

The Barlow Collection

A select catalogue of the Barlow collection of Chinese Ceramics, Bronzes and Jades by the University of Sussex (published Sussex, 2006).

The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

Publications online: 456 objects

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Figure of a prancing horse

  • loan
  • Literature notes

    The horse is standing on three legs, the fourth raised high in the air, the neck turned sharply to the left in an exaggerated pose, the massive head with combed mane and with mouth open, the tail docked and tied up. The saddle is placed on an angular blanket and covered with a cloth, which is tied together on both sides. The pale grey body is coated with a white dressing and shows traces of red and other pigments. The underside is open and the figure hollow. The piece has been adapted from a genuine figure of a standing horse, the neck, head and right leg being modern additions.

    Tang (AD 618–907) figures of horses of this basic type, but standing four square on a rectangular plinth, are fairly common. The legs have almost never survived intact. Prancing horses are also known of the Tang dynasty, but are very rare and differently modelled, since the stance of the horse naturally differs in this pose. A good example of a prancing horse is illustrated in H. d’Ardenne de Tizac, La Sculpture Chinoise, Paris, 1931, pl.XVI top. Tang dynasty horses also generally do not have the head twisted in this extreme pose.
  • Details

    Associated place
    Asia China (north) (place of creation)
    Date
    head 20th century (1901 - 2000)
    Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 907)
    head 20th century (1901 - 2000)
    Material and technique
    earthenware, moulded and luted, painted white, and with traces of red pigment
    Dimensions
    42.5 x 60 x 31 cm approx. (height x width x depth)
    Material index
    Technique index
    Object type index
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Lent by the Sir Alan Barlow Collection Trust.
    Accession no.
    LI1301.409
  • Further reading

    University of Sussex, and Arts and Humanities Research Council, The Barlow Collection, supervised by Regina Krahl, Maurice Howard, and Aiden Leeves (Sussex: University of Sussex, 2006), no. S16

Glossary (2)

earthenware, luted

  • earthenware

    Ceramic material made of clay which is fired to a temperature of c.1000-1200⁰c. The resulting ceramic is non-vitreous and varies in colour from dark red to yellow.

  • luted

    The fusion of parts of ceramics using dilute clay slip.

Location

    • currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

Publications online

  • The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

    The Barlow Collection

    The horse is standing on three legs, the fourth raised high in the air, the neck turned sharply to the left in an exaggerated pose, the massive head with combed mane and with mouth open, the tail docked and tied up. The saddle is placed on an angular blanket and covered with a cloth, which is tied together on both sides. The pale grey body is coated with a white dressing and shows traces of red and other pigments. The underside is open and the figure hollow. The piece has been adapted from a genuine figure of a standing horse, the neck, head and right leg being modern additions.

    Tang (AD 618–907) figures of horses of this basic type, but standing four square on a rectangular plinth, are fairly common. The legs have almost never survived intact. Prancing horses are also known of the Tang dynasty, but are very rare and differently modelled, since the stance of the horse naturally differs in this pose. A good example of a prancing horse is illustrated in H. d’Ardenne de Tizac, La Sculpture Chinoise, Paris, 1931, pl.XVI top. Tang dynasty horses also generally do not have the head twisted in this extreme pose.
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Object information may not accurately reflect the actual contents of the original publication, since our online objects contain current information held in our collections database. Click on 'buy this publication' to purchase printed versions of our online publications, where available, or contact the Jameel Study Centre to arrange access to books on our collections that are now out of print.

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