Saddled horse

Date8th century

PeriodTang dynasty (618–907)

MediumGlazed earthenware

DimensionsOVERALL: 19 1/8 × 18 5/8 × 7 1/2 in. (48.5 × 47.3 × 19 cm)

ClassificationsCeramics

Credit LineGift of Ira and Nancy Koger, 2001

Object numberSN11122.4

Horses became a major image in Chinese art during the Tang dynasty (618-906). Imagery of horses can be interpreted in different contexts of Chinese history, mythology, and literature that reflect its popularity among different groups of patrons. For the ruling elite, the possession and representation of horses signified imperial power and military might. Found in tombs of emperors and royal families, Tang-dynasty burial sculptures, called mingqui (meaning 'sprit goods' in Chinese), were intended to equip the deceased in the afterlife. The short but massive body of the horse, far heavier to be supported by its long fine legs, manifests a Tang taste in equine beauty. The elaborated saddle blanket and ornamented bridle reveal a spectacle of contemporary Tang horse gear.

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