Minneapolis Institute of the Arts Clay Ceramic Tianma

Minneapolis Institute of the Arts Clay Ceramic Tianma

In the Eastern Han Dynasty from the 1st to the 3rd century AD, Chinese ceramic art reached a high level, and one representative work is the ceramic heavenly horse. It is an exquisite ceramic artifact that vividly depicts a galloping horse. It is usually made of fine clay and crafted through meticulous sculpture and painting techniques. The shape of Tianma is lifelike, sculpted according to the actual form and movement of the horse, expressing elegance, freedom, and a sense of power. Its smooth lines, graceful posture, and lifelike details showcase the ceramic artist's superb skills and observation of horses.
Bronze Pegasus Collected by Minneapolis Institute of the Arts

Bronze Pegasus Collected by Minneapolis Institute of the Arts

When the envoy sent to Central Asia returned to the court, he was amazed by this unique "heavenly horse". This robust animal has a strong back and shoulders, and works very hard, sweating profusely. Emperor Wu of China (141-87 BC) was fascinated by these stories and sent diplomats and later an army to obtain these horses. His interest in these extraordinary horses, as well as the increasingly important role of horses in military operations, largely indicates the popularity of horses in art since the Han Dynasty, especially during the rule of the Wu Kingdom. Bronze horses like this are placed in exquisitely decorated noble tombs.