This horse would have been part of a group of burial wares found in the tombs of the wealthy elite. It is covered in an amber lead glaze, now degraded in some areas. The practice of using lead-glazed burial wares had already started during the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). This glaze technology further developed during the Tang dynasty into ‘sancai’ (‘three-colour’) glaze. It included colours such as cream, amber, brown and blue. The importance of horses to the Chinese affluent can be seen in the large numbers of pottery sculptures that have been found in Chinese tombs. Horses featured prominently in Chinese military tactics against invasions. Apart from military uses, the horse also played a central role in the long-distance trade over the Silk Road.
