China, First half of the 19th century
Dimensions: 7 cm
Brown and white snuff bottle made with layered glass technique from the first half of the 19th century. After blowing the bottle, the maker carved the 8 horses, an important animal in Chinese mythology: a symbol of power and strength. The animals can be seen in different positions all over the body of the bottle, standing, playing or lying on their backs. There is also the signature of the maker under the neck of the bottle. The cap is a reddish-brown hardstone with a smooth surface.
The Legend of Wang Mu’s 8 horses
Wang Mu was a ruler of the Zhou dynasty who set himself the goal of finding paradise in order to achieve eternal life. In his travels, he was assisted by 8 horses with supernatural powers, symbolizing the king’s power, influence and ability to rule. The animals’ abilities enabled them to travel great distances in a short time.
