This sculpture of a horse was commissioned by a member of the Chinese nobility for burial in an underground tomb. The ancient Chinese believed in filling a tomb with objects to create a comfortable afterlife for the dead.
In the Tang dynasty, horses were imported from China’s northern and western neighbors. The graceful neck, the beautifully parted and combed mane, and the elaborate harness and trappings of this horse indicate that such fine steeds were highly prized.
