Ca. 1368-1644 AD (or later). A hollow moulded ceramic figure of a horse standing on an integral base, with the rider sitting atop. The rider is depicted wearing traditional dress painted in blue, while the horse is depicted standing in a lifelike pose with its head held high. The horse played a significant role in Ming Dynasty society, serving as a symbol of wealth, power, and prestige. Horses were highly valued by the Ming emperors, who used them for both military and ceremonial purposes. The existence of this terracotta horse with its rider as a Mingqi object demonstrates the importance of horses in Ming Dynasty culture and their role in the afterlife.Size: L:295mm / W:230mm ; 1.78kgProvenance: From the private collection of a Somerset gentleman; previously in an old British collection, formed in the 1980s on the UK /European art markets.