A Painted Equestrian Figure

Western Han Dynasty, China, 206 BCE–220 CEPainted terracotta equestrian figure depicting a rider mounted on a sturdy horse with traces of original polychrome decoration remaining across the saddle, garments, and harness. Created as mingqi funerary objects, sculptures of this type were placed within tombs to accompany and serve the deceased in the afterlife. The horse reflects the Han court’s admiration for powerful Central Asian steeds valued for their importance in military expansion and imperial prestige. The expressive modeling and surviving pigments highlight the expressive quality of both horse and rider. The rider's missing legs may have been made of cloth.