Legendary horse head from the Old Summer Palace

This bronze horse head from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) once formed part of the famous zodiac fountain at the Haiyantang of the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) in Beijing. Cast in red copper, the sculpture was created using the lost-wax casting technique and assembled with precision riveting, giving it remarkably lifelike texture and durability.

The horse head originally served as a key component of the hydraulic clock fountain, where the twelve zodiac animals spouted water in turn to mark the hours. After decades of displacement overseas, the sculpture was purchased and donated by renowned entrepreneur Stanley Ho (1921-2020). In 2020, it finally returned to the Old Summer Palace, becoming the first lost zodiac head to return to its original site – a powerful symbol of cultural heritage coming home. Collection: Yuanmingyuan Museum.