A RARE LIAO DYNASTY LACQUERED WOOD SADDLE WITH GILT COPPER APPLICATIONS Northwestern China, 916-1125. The gilt copper appliques shaped as dragons chasing the flaming jewel on the pommel as well as the cantle and as lotus flowers on the ledgers, on one side with blossoms in the form of pierced mythical beast masks.

Published: Dr. Koos de Jong, Dragon & Horse. Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond, Amsterdam - Hong Kong 2013, ill. 3.02, p. 35.
Condition: Original, unrestored condition and very impressive considering the age of this saddle! Extensive losses to the lacquer only, along with cracks, scratches and other traces of use. The wood with age cracks and some small chips as well as a fine dark patina. The copper applications have lost much of the gilt and show small dents, dings, and a fine malachite green and copper red patina.
Provenance: Formerly in an American private collection. Collection of Dr. Koos de Jong, acquired from the above in 2007. Dr. de Jong is a Dutch art historian and has been privately collecting Chinese art over decades. He has authored hundreds of articles and several books on Dutch fine and decorative arts spanning from the Middle Ages to the modern era. In 2013, he published an extensive study of Chinese riding gear in “Dragon & Horse, Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond”. Between 1976 and 2009 he worked for numerous museums across the Netherlands and was the director of the European Ceramic Work Center in Den Bosch.

Weight: 2.6 kg
Dimensions: Length 49 cm

It is extremely rare to find surviving Liao dynasty lacquered horse saddles, and the present example appears to be unique. The use of lacquer and copper decorations suggest it was made for a member of the elite, who enjoyed sophisticated tastes as well as high rank.

With an associated metal stand. (2)

罕見遼代木胎髹黑漆馬鞍，鎏金銅配件
中國西北，916-1125。鞍橋上鎏金铜配件形状像巨龍戲珠，還可見蓮花以及瑞獸面具紋飾。

品相：考慮到馬鞍的年代，其原始且未還原的狀態令人印象深刻！漆面有大量磨損及裂紋、划痕和其他使用痕跡。木胎具有年代裂縫和一些小碎屑以及細膩的深色包漿。銅配件鍍金磨損嚴重，有小凹痕和綠色銅紅包漿。來源：美國私人收藏。Drs. Koos de Jong收藏，2007年購於上述收藏（發票已遺失）。Drs. de Jong是一位荷蘭藝術史學家， 幾十年來他一直私人收藏中國藝術品。他撰寫了數百篇文章和幾本書，內容涉及從中世紀到現代的荷蘭美術和裝飾藝術。 2013年，他在《Dragon & Horse：Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond》中發表了有關中國騎馬裝備的詳盡研究。1976年至2009年間，他曾在荷蘭的許多博物館工作，並曾擔任登博世歐洲陶瓷工作中心的主任。
出版：Dr. Koos de Jong著書《Dragon & Horse. Saddle Rugs and Other Horse Tack from China and Beyond》, 阿姆斯特丹 - 香港，2013年，圖3.02，頁35。

重量：2.6公斤
尺寸：長49釐米