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Horse head
Horse head

Horse head

Place of OriginCentral Plains, China
Dateapprox. 206-100 BCE
DynastyWestern Han period (206 BCE-9 CE)
MaterialsGray low-fired ceramic painted in red, purple, and white
DimensionsH. 1 13/16 in x W. 1 7/8 in x D. 5 1/8 in, H. 4.6 cm x W. 4.9 cm x D. 13.0 cm
Credit LineThe Avery Brundage Collection
Object numberB76P14
DepartmentChinese Art
ClassificationsSculpture
On View
Not on view
More Information
Horses were employed for warfare as early as the Shang-Zhou period. King Wu Ling of the Zhao state (325-299 BC) established the use of cavalry in northern China. The great enthusiasm for horses during the Han was further stimulated by the many breeds of horses imported from Western Asia and models were made in a variety of materials. Of these models, individual horse heads formed one type of funerary article and have been excavated from tombs of the Warring States through the Eastern Han period. The slim-shaped head and vivid facial details seen here recall the precise modeling techniques attributed to northern workshops of the early Han.