The Tang Dynasty is well known for its exquisite tri-colored pottery, as exemplified by this vivid figure of an Arabian horse, with wide staring eyes and long, lean legs. The horse is rendered in minute detail, from its shapely muscles to its diverse tack, including a large saddle, ornate bit, and breastcollar. The horse figure embodies the skilled aesthetics of the Tang period with its realistic shape; moreover, it also extensively features the cobalt glaze, which was the most precious and therefore the most popular of the three colors of glaze. The body is made of white clay, which would have been fired at 1100℃. The three-color glaze is then applied, and the pottery is fired again, at around 900℃. Eventually, the glaze oxidizes, yielding the polychrome effect, which is obtained by using three coloring agents: copper (which turns green); iron (which turns brownish-yellow); and cobalt (which turns blue). The contrast and confluence of these three elements produce a veritable spectrum of beautiful colors. Some types of three-colored pottery were produced for everyday use, but the technique was also frequently used to make ceramics with unique shapes, often modeled after people and animals. In particular, three-colored horses like this one have often been found among grave goods.