Warrior on horseback

The rider, reduced to the upper part of the body, wears the headdress wubian 武弁 devolved, under the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220), to ordinary soldiers. Its pelvis merges with the saddle so as to fit on the horse's back. The details of his clothing are largely erased, but we can still make out the collar of an outer tunic underlined in red and that of an undergarment.

Five cavities, made in the body of the horse, allow to insert the legs and the tail today disappeared. The animal's head is caught in a bridle painted red, of which the rider seems to have held the reins. The representation of the harness is close to that of warrior mounts exhumed at Yangjiawan 楊家灣 near Xi'an 西安 (Shaanxi). These could date back to the first quarter of the XNUMXnd century BC. J.-C.

The simplified treatment of the warrior, deprived of legs, however, suggests a later dating. Indeed, a comparable piece was found in a tomb later than 118 BC. AD located on the hill Jinqueshan (Shandong).

These warriors had to guarantee the safety of the deceased and drive out the harmful influxes of the tomb.

Cartel:

warrior on horseback
Terracotta and cold painted pigments on white engobe, molding in several parts, North China
Western Han Dynasty (206 BC–9), turn of the XNUMXnd c. av. J.-C.
H.63,8 cm x L.50,7 cm x W.15,7 cm
MC 10043A (horse) and MC 10043B (warrior)

Gift of the Society of Friends of the Cernuschi Museum with the participation of Yves and Lotus Mahé, 1999

Horse (Common name), -0206. Cernuschi Museum, Museum of Asian Arts of the City of Paris.

Cavalier (Username), -0206. Cernuschi Museum, Museum of Asian Arts of the City of Paris.