Long-necked jar with horse decoration, Korea, Three Kingdoms period, Silla kingdom (57 B.C.–A.D. 676), 5th century. Stoneware with incised design and incidental ash glaze, 16 1/4 in. (41.2 cm); Diam. of rim: 7 7/16 in. (18.9 cm), 16 1/4 in. (41.2 cm); Diam. of rim: 7 7/16 in. (18.9 cm). Image courtesy the National Museum of Korea.

The playful rendition of horses on this vessel reflects a broader whimsical aesthetic of the period. Horses were an integral part of Silla society and culture, as evidenced in part by the horse trappings buried with the deceased (among other earthly possessions, including gold accessories and ceramics). Pots with equine images, however, are relatively rare.