Overview

A hand-carved and hand-painted Chinese wooden horse in the prancing form of Tang dynasty horse figures. It is a 20th-century decorative piece made for the export trade, likely about 1970s–1990s. The black-ground painting with tight, outlined color fields deliberately imitates cloisonné enamel. From the Craft World Tours Collection.

Design & Craftsmanship

Function & Form: 16" long, 14.5" high and 5" wide. A caparisoned horse with the right foreleg raised, carved with a saddle, draped saddle cloth, fringed blanket, chest and haunch tassels, and bridle.
Artistry & Ornamentation: Carved over a white gesso ground and painted in polychrome on a dark ground, with gilt mane, bound tail, hooves and trim, under a glossy topcoat. Cranes among pine boughs and clouds on the neck; a confronted pair of phoenix-like birds with peonies on the haunches; ducks, lotus and florals on the chest and legs; peony scrolls on the saddle; blue lotus scrollwork with a key-fret border on the belly.
Structural Base: Integral green-painted rectangular plinth with a flat, unmarked underside. A small round white sticker sits on the plinth edge.

Condition Report

Surface Condition: A paint crack or join line runs across the red saddle cloth on one side. Small chips on the mane near the ears and on the neck, rubbing to the gilt hooves, and edge wear, scuffs and flaking on the plinth.
Structural Integrity: Structurally sound and stands firmly. This item is sold “as-is” with all associated patina and wear inherent to its age and history as part of the Craft World Tours Collection.

Shop the Collection

Chinese Tang-Style Carved and Cloisonne-Style Painted Wood Horse with Gilt Accents