Tang Dynasty Sancai Horse Figure (c. 618-907 CE)

The Horses That Galloped Through a Golden Age

Tang Dynasty sancai horse figures are among the most recognized and desired objects in Chinese art. These glazed ceramic sculptures, produced during China's great cultural golden age (618-907 CE), capture the spirit, power, and beauty of the horses that were central to Tang Dynasty life. The distinctive three-color (sancai) glaze technique, with its flowing streams of amber, green, and cream, makes these figures instantly recognizable and perpetually fascinating to collectors of Asian art and antiques.

Originally created as mingqi (spirit objects) to accompany the deceased into the afterlife, sancai horses were placed in the tombs of Tang Dynasty aristocrats and officials. Their quality and size reflected the status of the tomb occupant, with the finest examples representing significant artistic achievement. Today, these figures command prices from a few thousand dollars for smaller or damaged examples to hundreds of thousands for museum-quality pieces.

Understanding Sancai

Sancai, meaning "three colors," refers to the distinctive lead-based glaze technique perfected during the Tang Dynasty. Despite the name, sancai pieces can employ more than three colors, but the classic palette combines amber (or golden yellow), green, and cream (or white), often with additional touches of blue (derived from cobalt).

The glaze is applied to a light-colored earthenware body that has been partially fired (bisque fired). The glazes are then applied, often by pouring or splashing, allowing them to run and mingle during the final firing. This controlled-randomness creates the distinctive flowing patterns that make each sancai piece unique.

The firing temperature for sancai is relatively low (approximately 800-1000 degrees Celsius), which is lower than stoneware or porcelain. This means the body remains porous and somewhat fragile, which is a factor in the survival and condition of these pieces over more than a millennium.

The Horse in Tang Dynasty Culture

Horses were central to Tang Dynasty civilization. The empire's military power depended on cavalry, and the Tang maintained vast herds of horses, many imported from Central Asian kingdoms along the Silk Road. The famous Ferghana horses, known as "blood-sweating heavenly horses," were particularly prized for their speed and endurance.

Emperors and aristocrats were passionate equestrians. Emperor Taizong (626-649 CE) was famously devoted to his warhorses, and the six steeds that carried him through his military campaigns were immortalized in stone reliefs at his mausoleum.

Polo, introduced from Persia, became a favorite sport of the Tang court. Women as well as men played, and polo scenes are frequently depicted in Tang art. The association of horses with military prowess, aristocratic leisure, and Central Asian exoticism gave them enormous cultural significance.

This cultural importance explains why horse figures are the most common and most valued of all sancai tomb figures. They were symbols of wealth, power, and connection to the wider world beyond China's borders.

What to Look For

Form and Proportion: The best Tang sancai horses display naturalistic proportions with muscular bodies, arched necks, and alert expressions. The horse's stance, the angle of the head, and the treatment of the mane and tail all contribute to the figure's dynamism.

Glaze Quality: Premium examples show rich, well-applied glazes with vivid color and attractive flow patterns. The glaze should be well-adhered to the body without excessive crazing or flaking. The interplay of colors, where amber meets green or cream flows into blue, is central to the aesthetic.

Size: Tang sancai horses range from small figures around 8-10 inches to large pieces exceeding 24 inches. Larger figures are rarer, more impressive, and significantly more valuable. Life-size or near-life-size examples, while extremely rare, exist and are museum-level pieces.

Accessories: Many horse figures were originally fitted with separate saddles, bridles, and riders made from unfired clay, fabric, or other perishable materials. Most of these accessories have been lost. Figures retaining original accessories are rare and valuable. Some figures show molded saddles and trappings that are integral to the ceramic body.

Value Guide

Condition Grading Details

Grade A (Museum): Form is intact with no structural repairs. Glaze is substantially complete with vibrant color. Surface shows appropriate age-related characteristics (minor crazing, light earthen deposits from burial) that confirm authenticity. Thermoluminescence (TL) test confirms Tang Dynasty date. Documented provenance from a reputable collection.

Grade B (Excellent): Form is complete or with very minor losses. Glaze retains good color coverage with acceptable minor losses. Professional conservation may include stabilization of fragile areas. TL test positive. The figure displays well and represents the type effectively.

Grade C (Very Good/Good): Some structural repairs or restored sections. Glaze shows moderate losses but enough remains to appreciate the original color scheme. The figure may have been reassembled from fragments. TL testing is positive. Restorations are professionally done and not immediately obvious.

Grade D (Fair): Significant restoration, possibly including rebuilt sections. Glaze heavily degraded or largely lost. The form is recognizable but the figure has been substantially reconstructed. Still displayable and genuine, but the extensive restoration limits collector value.

The Forgery Problem

Tang sancai figures have been extensively forged, and the forgery problem is arguably the most critical issue in this collecting area. Chinese workshops have produced sophisticated fakes for decades, and the quality of forgeries has improved dramatically.

Thermoluminescence (TL) Testing: The most important authentication tool. TL testing measures the radiation dose accumulated in the ceramic body since it was last fired, providing an approximate date of manufacture. Genuine Tang pieces will show dates consistent with the 7th-10th century CE. TL testing is not infallible but is the primary scientific authentication method.

Visual and Tactile Analysis: Experienced specialists can identify characteristics of genuine Tang sancai that are difficult to replicate: the specific quality of the earthenware body, the behavior of the lead glazes, the type and distribution of burial deposits, and the wear patterns consistent with over a millennium of existence.

Provenance: Documented collection history, particularly from established Western collections formed before the modern forgery boom, provides important supporting evidence for authenticity.

The Oxford Test: Oxford Authentication Ltd. provides the gold-standard TL testing for Chinese ceramics. A positive Oxford TL test significantly enhances both confidence and market value.

Market Considerations

The market for Tang sancai horses is influenced by several factors:

Authentication Risk: The prevalence of forgeries has made buyers cautious, which moderates prices compared to what they might achieve if authentication were more straightforward. However, well-authenticated pieces with TL tests and good provenance command strong prices.

Chinese Domestic Market: Wealthy Chinese collectors have become significant buyers of Tang Dynasty art, driving competition for the finest pieces. This demand has particularly affected prices for large, museum-quality horses.

Cultural Heritage Laws: Chinese antiquities laws restrict the export of cultural relics. Most legitimate pieces on the Western market left China before modern export restrictions were enacted. Provenance documentation that demonstrates legal acquisition and export is increasingly important.

For collectors, a genuine Tang sancai horse with positive TL testing and reasonable provenance represents a connection to one of the great civilizations in human history. The aesthetic appeal of these figures transcends cultural boundaries, making them universally admired objects that enhance any collection.

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