Sui Dynasty – Tang Dynasty Statuette of a Female Horse Rider

A finely moulded Sui Dynasty-Tang Dynasty ceramic statuette depicting a court lady riding a horse. The female figure sits astride the horse, with one arm outstretched at her side, and the other raised across her chest, concealed by the loosely draping sleeve, in an elegant gesture. She is portrayed wearing a white-pigmented sleeveless coat, known as beizi. The long white coat reveals black-pigmented, flaring sleeves of her inner attire. Her beizi is sculpted with triangular-shaped openings at the bottom in low relief on both sides, exposing the undergarment. The fringe of her beizi is portrayed by multiple vertical incisions, symbolising the fabric’s folds. Her hairstyle, popular among noble women of the Tang Dynasty, is styled in a high bun like a mountain peak, secured at the back in a circular design. Delicate facial features including elongated eyes, a dimpled mouth, and a rounded chin, are emphasised by black and red pigments. The horse is portrayed standing on a rectangular stand, with a long tail, cropped mane and facial features clearly expressed in black pigments and further modelling. Details of the bridles, harness and saddle are modelled in relief with green and brown pigment. The original speckled pigmentation survives largely intact, and there is a hole under the horse’s belly for firing process. As is customary for larger attendant statues, the figure’s head is detachable.