19 - Funerary horse Mingqi, China, 7th - 9th century

Funerary horse Mingqi, China, 7th - 9th century Terracotta funerary sculpture with traces of polychromy. Dimensions not specified. Mingqi figure depicting a horse walking, with its right foreleg raised, head slightly inclined, and ears erect, lending the composition a strong sense of movement and naturalism. The body is modeled with well-defined volumes and balanced proportions, while the slender limbs and stable posture convey elegance and vitality. Traces of red and white polychromy remain on the mane, hooves, and various areas of the body, evidence of the original chromatic finish. The surface exhibits an old patina, with wear, flaking, and material loss visible on the muzzle, legs, and rump, consistent with its age. The rectangular base provides stability to the piece, and the ventilation opening under the belly, related to the firing process, is characteristic of Chinese production. From a stylistic point of view, the work belongs to the Tang dynasty, a period in which funerary sculpture reached a remarkable degree of naturalism and expressiveness, reflecting the symbolic and ceremonial importance of the horse in imperial China.