Horse
5th–6th century
Medium
Earthenware
Dimensions
79 × 84.5 × 28.5 cm (31 1/8 × 33 1/4 × 11 1/4 in.)
Classification
earthenware
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
86366
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This haniwa is a representation of a fully decorated horse, complete with saddle, stirrups, and bell ornaments on its front and back. The strap at the front has an incised chevron pattern, and the metal ring (suwari kanagu) used to gather up the leather straps at the back of a horse can be clearly seen. Excavated in Ibaragi prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, such a horse would have likely been at the front of a burial mound, in an area filled with a variety of figurines, as well as animal forms, pe...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...