A PAINTED RED POTTERY GROOM AND A HORSE Tang dynasty

A PAINTED RED POTTERY GROOM AND A HORSE
Tang dynasty
Well-modeled in lively postures, the groom's head and body tilted to his right, both hands raised as if holding the rein, his delicate facial features carefully painted and hair neatly coiled, wearing a fitted green robe with colorful trims over a pair of tall boots and standing on a small trapezoid base, the horse lowering its head to gnaw at the left knee, well-groomed with mane neatly trimmed, the green saddle lined with leopard skin saddle blanket, standing foursquare on a trapezoid base, the red pottery body shown under a white slip, cover overall with earth encrustations.
9 1/8in (23.5) high of groom; 11 1/2in (29.4cm) length of horse
Footnotes:
唐 彩繪紅陶馬夫與馬

The groom and the horse are both of excellent quality. The painted surface was prepared with a thin layer of white slip and painted with vivid colors and delicate details.

Compare, for example, the group of three Tang painted pottery figures of dancing men unearthed from the tomb of Princess Jinxiang, a granddaughter of Li Yuan, the first emperor of the Tang dynasty, illustrated by Wang et. al, in The Tang Tomb of Prince Jinxiang, Beijing, 2002, col. pl. 106.