Description:

Hollow-moulded, soft, buff earthenware figure of an equestrienne dressed for playing polo, on horseback. All four legs of the horse are outstretched as if galloping; the head looks straight ahead and the ears are pricked. The rider sits on a saddle with a saddlecloth and wears a long robe, striped trousers and a tall hat. The left hand is held just above the saddle as if holding onto reins and the right hand is held beside the body as if holding a mallet. The facial features of the rider are finely moulded and painted. The unglazed body bears traces of unfired red, green and yellow pigments. The rider has been broken and repaired at the right arm and waist.

Relational references:

Legeza, I.L. 1972. Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue of the Malcolm Macdonald Collection of Chinese Ceramics in the Gulbenkian Museum of Oriental Art and Archaeology, University of Durham. London: Oxford University Press 1983. Chinese Art at Durham. Arts of Asia, 1983, vol. 13, no. 6, p. 111 & 113