Ca. 386-534 AD A finely hollow-moulded terracotta horse statuette modeled standing foursquare on a rectangular base, the head drawn in towards the arched neck, the bridle modeled with a single plume. The head is crisply detailed with flared nostrils, an open mouth, and pricked ears. The beautiful red mane is in contrast with the cream-coloured body. The chest is adorned with a tassel-hung strap. The back is draped with a red cloth with gathered ends set atop a flared green mudguard.The Northern Wei dynasty ruled northern China from ca. 386 to 534 AD, and its most famous achievement was unifying a large empire following a long period of social and political turbulence. Craftsmen working under this dynasty were also responsible for beautiful works of art, as this object exemplifies.Stylistically, this horse is very similar to the one unearthed in Cizian, Heibei province in 1979 from the tomb of a Wei Princess, see:'Wenwu', 1984: 4, pl.5, fig. 2, for a line drawing of the horse on p. 6.A similarly caparisoned horse was included in ' Early Dynastic China: Works of Art from Shang to Song, J.J. Lally & Co., New York, 26 March-26 April 1996, no.5.For another similar Wei dynasty terracotta horse, see:Christie's Fine Chinese Furniture, Ceramics and Works of Art. Thursday 20 September 2001. London: Christie's International Media Division, p.150.This piece has been precisely dated by means of a Thermo Luminescence analysis carried out by Ralf Kotalla, an independent German Laboratory. The samples collected date the piece to the period reflected in its style, whilst also showing no modern trace elements. The TL certificate with its full report will accompany this lot. Size: L:405mm / W:345mm ; 3.15kg Provenance: UK private collection; formerly acquired in the early 1990s in Hong Kong.