Daughter of the winged horse Pegasus and Ochyrhoe the centauress, the ancient Greek name Melanippe means Black Mare.  The legendary Amazons, Scythian horsewomen, archers and warriors, took Greek names, many of which were associated with horses.

These ancient Steppe nomads dominated the lands from present day Siberia to the Black Sea between 800 and 300 BCE.  The horse, their most valuable possession, enabled distant travel, trade and conquest. They dressed their horses in elaborate costuming in life and death… their trappings found in burial kurgans beside their human partners, ready for their journey to the afterlife together.

Melanippe is hand made of bisque fired clay, unglazed, colored with waxes, mounted to a hand finished block of salvaged antique French oak beam with a salvaged metal rod from an equestrian estate.

Melanippe wears a neckpiece from the ancient world as if unearthed… an excavated clay pendant from the east… discovered with Roman bronze fragments and coins. Paired with excavated ancient rock crystal beads, ancient Djenne glass beads, both at least 1000 years old… and matte black agate and assorted antique and vintage seed beads. 

The clay pendant has not been cleaned, the marks of time deeply embedded in its grooves.  It easily slips over the head of the horse to be removed. The design differs on the reverse.

As discovered. As excavated.

SIZE - Horse 6 1/2” long X 3 3/4” tall, mounted 6” tall.

French oak block 6 1/2”: long X 3 3/4” wide by 1 3/4” high.

Hand made by Them - Hand Made by Us - One of a Kind

With Stone Lore Cards.