This miniature horse is covered almost entirely in lead amber glaze. It would have been part of a group of 'mingqi' or burial ware.Lead-glazes were introduced during the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) and were further developed during the Tang (618-906) to include streaky ‘sancai’ (‘three-colour’) glazes.The importance of horses to the Chinese ruling class can be seen in the large numbers of pottery sculptures that have been found in Chinese tombs. Apart from military use, the horse also played a central role in the long-distance trade over the Silk Road.
