Head of a Horse

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian collection, this delicate *Head of a Horse* a small earthenware sculpture Central Asia, crafted in the early 12th. Measuring just 2 3/4 x 1/2 inches, its modest scale belies its cultural resonance, likely part of a figurine or votive object. Earthenware, a low-fired clay medium, was prized in the region for its accessibility, allowing artisans to capture lifelike details through hand-modeling before firing. In 12th-century Central Asia—a crossroads of Silk Road trade, steppe cultures, and emerging Islamic influences—horses symbolized power, m...