東漢（鮮卑文化） 鎏金翼馬紋銅飾板|Plaque with a Winged Horse

Unknown

1st century · Gilt bronze · Asian Art

These plaques were created by (or for) the Xianbei, a nomadic people living in the steppes region of what is now Mongolia and northern China, who would later control a large part of northern China as the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534). According to the dynastic history of the Wei, they were led into China by a mysterious animal spirit that was shaped like a horse and that bellowed like an ox. (One of a pair; see 24.174.6)

Artist

Unknown

Date

1st century

Medium

Gilt bronze

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Fletcher Fund, 1924