A RARE stone horse from the Chinese Ming dynasty that stands nearly 7ft high is to be sold in Dorchester – and could fetch £100,000.

The funerary stone sculpture was one of six that stood along the route to the entrance of a nobleman’s tomb in southern China.

The horse is probably from the 14th century and there is expected to be huge interest from the newly-rich Chinese collectors.

The six horses from the tomb were exported to the West during the 1970s and early 1980s along with warriors who would have lined the same route.

One of the horses and a warrior are on display at the Reitberg museum in Zurich, Switzerland, but the whereabouts of the others are unknown.

The 1.8-ton horse is carved from hard rock and is wearing its ceremonial tack and robes and has his teeth exposed.

Many of these sculptures were uncovered by the Chinese during excavations in the 1970s and 1980s and permission was given for many of them to be sold and exported.

This was imported by Hans Langhard and has been standing outside for the past 30 years and was covered in moss and lichen.

It is believed to have come from the era of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming dynasty.

The horse will be sold on July 29 by Duke’s of Dorchester, which has built up a reputation of unearthing and selling valuable Chinese antiques and works of art.

The vendor recently received the object after a friend died and left it to him in his will.

Amy Brenan from Duke’s said: “These horses were carved in southern China to line the routes to tombs. In northern China they tended to use camels.

“Many were uncovered during tomb excavations and were sold to the West.

“This was one of six horses that were brought over and one of them is now in the Reitburg museum in Zurich along with a stone warrior.

“It was standing outside for many years and was covered in moss and lichen but was cleaned before it came over to us.

“It is small by the standards of some of these funerary sculptures.

“However, it is an important object from the Ming dynasty and with the Chinese market so buoyant at present we are hoping for a good price.”