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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