A Chinese Terracotta Horse and Rider

Tang Dynasty, 618–907 CEThis terracotta figure depicts a rider mounted on horseback, a subject frequently found among mingqi (funerary objects) placed in Tang dynasty tombs. Such figures were intended to accompany and serve the deceased in the afterlife, reflecting the importance of horses as symbols of status, mobility, and military power. The rider wears a tall pointed cap resembling the humao (胡帽), a style associated with peoples of Central Asia, illustrating the cosmopolitan character of Tang society and the cultural exchanges fostered by the Silk Road. The sculpture is made from buff-coloured earthenware, molded and then refined by hand before being decorated with painted pigments. Although much of the original coloration has faded, traces of paint and burial deposits remain visible on the surface. The horse’s upright stance and the rider’s composed posture convey both dignity and confidence, qualities admired in Tang funerary art. Objects of this type provide valuable insight into the dynasty’s fascination with foreign cultures, equestrian life,...