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Galloping through millennia: A timeline of Chinese horse artifacts
Galloping through millennia: A timeline of Chinese horse artifacts
Gilded silver kettle with a dancing horse grasping a cup in its mouth
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
China Bound
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Dancing horses were a popular form of entertainment in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). On each side of this silver kettle, a gilded dancing horse is hammered in relief using a repoussé technique. The horse is strong and plump, captured in a moment of motion, with front hooves straight and firm, hind legs bent, and a wine cup grasped in its mouth. The spirited steed seems to embody the confidence and flourishing energy of the High Tang era. Collection: Shaanxi History Museum.
