PROPERTY FROM AN EAST COAST PRIVATE COLLECTION A PAINTED GREY POTTERY MODEL OF A HORSENorthern Wei dynasty, 5th-6th century Handsomely modeled standing four-square on a rectangular base, the horse with arched mane and slender face, details of the well-fitted bridle straps and facial features finely picked out, the chest collar decorated with seven tufts between the flared blanket saddle, the grey pottery body covered with earth encrustations with some buff painted layer remains. 11in (28.1cm) high; 10in (25.7cm) long 北魏 加彩灰陶馬 Pottery horses of this type belonged to a large procession in the burial ritual, often apanied by laden camels, musicians, dancers, servants, guards, and a ox-drawn carriage, representing the journey into afterlife. The modeling and style of the present example is closely related to the Northern Wei kneeling camel in this sale, lot 288. For a set of procession figures in private collection, see R.D. Jacobsen, Celestial Horses & Long Sleeve Dancers: The David W. Dewey Collection of Ancient Chinese Tomb Sculpture , Minneapolis, 2013, pp. 134-135. The dating of this piece is consistent with the results of thermoluminescence test, Oxford certificate number C106y87, 4 October 2006.