A Figure of a Prancing Horse

Tang Dynasty, China, 618-907 CE Terracotta horse sculpture depicted in a prancing position with the left leg raised and muscles and sinews highlighted. The horse is of the Central Asian type, with a large neck, pricked ears, flaring nostrils, and flowing tail. During the Tang period, horses were symbols of wealth and trade along the expanding Silk Road. The figure preserves a naturally mineralized earthen patina formed through centuries of aging, enhancing its archaeological character. Originally created as a mingqi funerary object, the sculpture was intended to accompany and serve the deceased in the afterlife while symbolizing prestige, mobility, and imperial authority within Tang Chinese burial traditions.