Mortuary Figurine

C695

Location: On Display in the Asia Galleries

From: China

Curatorial Section: Asian

Native Name Mingqi
Object Number C695
Current Location Asia Galleries - On Display
Culture Chinese
Provenience China
Period Tang Dynasty
Date Made 8th Century CE
Section Asian
Materials Clay | Pigment
Technique Fired | Painted
Iconography Horse
Description

Funerary figurine of a painted pottery horse with its head curved down. This horse would have been placed in tombs with other objects that were important to take into the afterlife. The Bactrian horse, depicted here, with slender legs and a massive body, was imported from the greater Iran area. Replacing the small and stocky Mongolian breeds, the Bactrian became the favorite among royalty. There were likely harnesses and riding gear in the figures' original state, along with real horsehair for the mane and tail. C694 and C695 are a pair.

Credit Line Purchased from C. T. Loo, 1928

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