Painted and Gilded Ceramic Rider on Horseback

The heads of the horses are hooded and surfaced with gold, with openings for the eyes. Between the two ears of each horse is a tassel. The armor pieces covering its neck, chest and body are joined together.

Behind the saddle and near the hindquarters is a hole for the insertion of an object shaped like a fan or twigs. During Tang Dynasty, horses decked out this way were intended only to reflect the owner’s wealth and power.

In general, they were used as part of a nobleman’s guard of honor rather than as battle steeds. The riders wear helmets and high boots and are clad in armor with breastplates and protection for the arms. They hold the reins in their left hands while their right hands are clenched as though holding something.

Now there are a lot of DIY halls, maybe sometimes you could go there to practice handwork.

Copyright: A Journey into China’s Antiquity– Chinese History in Cultural Relics, Blossom Press

Photo/IC