A rare pair of life-like polychrome coloured clay horse heads. Han figures are typically sculpted from gray clay and then pigment is added to turn the head red. The grey clay can be seen under the rich red pigment on this pair. This brighter colour is more striking and there many examples of this form in museum collections.
These examples are very well modelled and would have been attached to a body, probably made of wood or pottery. Matching pairs like this are rare.

As well as the "nostril" or venting holes deliberately placed at the top of each piece during the firing process, there are some cracks and gaps in the pieces consistent with their age. These can easily be restored but are a natural part of these 2000-year-old pieces as they are.

Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 25 AD)

Over 6" tall and wide, each weighing c700g,.

Provenance: ex-The White Collection, Hong Kong