A near pair of painted pottery models of caparisoned horsesNorthern Wei Dynasty Each finely modelled standing four-square, the head well proportioned with alert ears, a tasselled rope looped around the top of the curving neck and ornaments on the chest collar, the back covered with a long cloth, the crupper on the rump hung with ornaments, with traces of red and grey pigment remaining. 40cm (15 3/4in) and 43.5cm (17 1/8in) long. (2).注脚北魏 陶胎彩繪馬俑一組兩件The result of Oxford Authentication Ltd. thermoluminescence tests no. C109e41, dated 8 March 2009, and C110p82, dated 22 November 2010, are consistent with the dating of this lot.Oxford Authentication Ltd公司熱釋光檢測結果（2009年3月8日，編號C109e41；以及2010年11月22日，編號C110p82）顯示年代與本拍品年代一致。Carefully fashioned with close attention to detail such as detailed harnesses embellished with conch shells and bells, and floating blankets that resembled flowing wings, the horse is a fine example of the limited sculptural production of the Wei dynasty that has survived to this date. It is possible that the horse may have been imported from the Central Asian region of Ferghana, whose horses were highly favoured by the Chinese imperial Court and upper classes for their spirit and vitality. Compare with a similar horse, Wei dynasty, illustrated in The Tsui Museum of Art, Chinese Ceramics, Neolithic to Liao, vol.1, Hong Kong, 1993, no.71; and another, which was sold at Christie's New York, 22 March 1999, lot 221.