Striding Horse

This elegant figure of a gloriously festooned striding stallion is remarkable for its large size and detailed modeling. It is a classic example of a style—including slender legs, powerfully arched neck, small head, large saddle blanket, and exquisite trappings—unique to the Northern Wei (385–535), Eastern Wei (534–539), and Northern Qi (549–577) dynasties. Horses were highly valued during this period, and the great imperial mounts were magnificently decorated showpieces—symbols of wealth and prestige that were ridden with pride by their owners. This sculpture is also notable both for the amount of red and white pigment it has retained despite centuries of burial and for its size—it is apparently the largest example of this type of Northern Qi horse on record.