Horse Stepping on a Swallow

There is another famous representative sculpture of the Han Dynasty, the bronze statue of a Horse Stepping on a Swallow. It was unearthed in an Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) tomb in Wuwei County, Gansu Province , in 1969. It is 34.5 cm high and 41 cm long. The bronze statue created about 2000 years ago has a lively action and accurate proportions. The positioning of its four legs strictly conforms to that of a living horse and is highly praised by many local and foreign archeologists and artists. The horse is raising its head, neighing and galloping forward with one foot treading on a flying swallow. According to analysis of its mechanics, Horse Stepping on a Swallow finds a center of gravity in the swallow to give the statue its stability. The romantic image of the swallow sets off the power and strength of the horse, providing a rich imaginative experience for viewers. The statue of Horse Stepping on a Swallow is a unique product among Chinese bronzeware .

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