Chinese Sancai-Glazed Pottery 'Horse-Headed' Zodiac Figure, Tang Dynasty Style
Estimated value
$1,200 - $5,000Rarity
Scarce(6/10)Category
Asian ArtEra
Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) or later period reproductionOrigin
🇨🇳 ChinaAuthenticity
CHINESE SANCAI-GLAZED POTTERY 'HORSE-HEADED' ZODIAC FIGURE, TANG DYNASTY STYLE: IDENTIFICATION
Pottery figure depicting a seated anthropomorphic creature with a horse's head and a human body dressed in wide-sleeved scholarly robes. The lead-based glazing follows the traditional sancai (three-color) palette of amber and green with a straw-colored cream slip on the face. The horse head features articulated nostrils, a distinctively modeled mane, and bulging eyes consistent with Tang-period aesthetic conventions for equine figures.
Compare with other Asian art pieces in the archive: Chinese Archaistic Carved Jade Figure, Hongshan/Shang Style, Balinese Art Deco Wooden Sculpture of a Winged Celestial (Kinnari), Chinese Archaistic 'Taotie' and 'Chilong' Jade Pendant.
SCARCITY
Genuinely harder to find. Perhaps only dozens come to market annually. Collectors actively watch for these pieces.
Rarity 6/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 5 asian items at rarity 6 or higher.
Typical Characteristics
- Dozens per year at market
- Documented provenance valued
- Active collector pursuit
Confidence Factors
- High prevalence of modern 20th-century reproductions of Tang sancai wares in the market.
- Glaze sheen appears remarkably consistent for an excavated object without more pronounced degradation.
- Tang-style figures are among the most frequently faked categories of Chinese antiquities due to their high demand.
Expert review recommended. Consider consulting a specialist before making purchasing decisions.
ASIAN ART SCHOLAR'S TAKE
Asian Art Specialist
The form and glaze application are highly consistent with Tang archetypes found in museum collections, but the high risk of expert forgeries in this specific category necessitates caution without physical laboratory testing.
KEY EVIDENCE
- 1Sancai glaze combination of green (copper) and amber (iron) is stylistically accurate for the 8th century.
- 2The 'bulging eye' and 'flared nostril' modeling are diagnostic of Tang equine sculpture.
- 3Low-fired lead glaze exhibits the typical micro-crazing seen on aged earthenware.
UNCERTAINTIES
- •Lack of visible silvering or iridescent 'irisation' on the glaze surface often associated with long-term burial.
- •Sharpness of the mold lines on the head may indicate a more recent production date.
WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY
- →Obtain a Thermoluminescence (TL) test from a lab like Oxford Authentication to confirm the last firing date.
- →Examine the interior of the figure for modern slip-casting lines or fingerprints.
- →Perform a microscopic examination of the glaze bubbles for signs of natural aging versus chemical distressing.
CONDITION & GRADE
Grading breakdown
Assessment of condition is based on surface preservation and glaze integrity; however, professional TL testing is required to confirm age.
Condition
Slight glaze abrasions and pitting visible on the knees; the base shows exposed reddish earthenware body consistent with Tang period materials.
ASIAN ART VALUATION
Updated: May 11, 2026
Who buys this
Collectors of early Chinese ceramics and specialists in Mingqi tomb figures; occasionally sought by zodiac-themed collectors.
What increases value
- •Authenticity confirmed by TL testing
- •Completeness of the original set (1 of 12)
- •Vibrancy of the green and amber glazes
What lowers value
- •Modern reproduction status (drops value to under $200)
- •Extensive restoration to the neck area which is common in excavated pieces
- •Presence of synthetic pigments in the glaze
What makes top-tier examples
- •Traces of iridescence (silvering) on the glaze surface
- •Refined, non-static carving of the horse's mane and facial features
- •Documented provenance from an old 20th-century collection
Grade & condition
Condition is determined by the percentage of original glaze remaining and the absence of structural repairs to the fragile neck and base.
Rarity & demand
For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.
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