Ancient Xinjiang Funerary Horse Animal Sculpture

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Ancient Xinjiang Funerary Horse Animal Sculpture

This expressive carved wooden animal sculpture was discovered in a tomb in the Xinjiang region of north-western China. Created as a funerary object, it was intended to accompany an important individual into the afterlife, reflecting ancient beliefs in protection, status, and continuity beyond death. Tombs of high-ranking individuals in this region often contained large assemblages of objects — wooden figures of animals and humans, along with bronze and terracotta vessels — with the quantity and quality directly corresponding to the social standing of the deceased.

The arid desert climate of Xinjiang has played a crucial role in the preservation of this piece, allowing both the wood and traces of original painted decoration to survive in remarkably stable condition. The sculpture displays a powerful stylised form, with an open mouth and alert posture, suggesting strength, guardianship, or symbolic vitality — qualities commonly associated with animals placed in funerary contexts. The horse head consists of three separate pieces and is not broken; it is designed to be assembled.
Note: The head is formed from three individual components. These are not broken fragments, but original sections designed to be assembled together, fitting seamlessly when aligned.