Ca. 1368-1644 AD, or later. A ceramic figure portraying a horserider sitting atop a horse. The gentleman is dressed in a navy glazed tunic with pale blue trimmings, black trousers, and one arm extended as if to hold something. The horse stands still, with its mane falling over its neck and its tail flicking over the hindquarters, creating a sense of dynamic movement. The horse's equipment, including the saddle and other trappings, is modelled in high relief, adding to the sense of realism and creating a striking visual impact. This Ming Dynasty ceramic figurine belongs to the mingqi tradition, a practice in which tomb figurines were used to provide the deceased with a retinue of servants, soldiers, and officials in the afterlife. The depiction of a horse and rider was a popular choice for tomb figurines, as horses held a significant cultural and social status in Chinese society.Size: L:300mm / W:245mm ; 1.74kgProvenance: East Anglian private collection; formerly acquired in the early 1990s in Hong Kong.