Equine elegance from Hermès and others for the coming Year of the Fire Horse

The most recent Year of the Horse was in 2014 with the Wood Horse, preceded by the Water Horse in 2002, the Metal Horse in 1990 and the Earth Horse in 1978. The last Fire Horse year, which has a particularly intense reputation in parts of East Asia, fell in 1966.

In the Chinese zodiac, the horse is associated with qualities like speed, confidence, stamina and the ability to overcome obstacles, all of which have made it a meaningful symbol of vitality across centuries of Chinese culture. People born under the horse sign are often described as energetic and perceptive, with a natural preference for independence. Across Asia, the horse has long symbolised movement and promise, and featured in Tang dynasty sculpture and in Lunar New Year paintings, its forward gallop expressing optimism in good luck and a smooth road ahead.

Jewellery traditions – not just in China but around the world – have incorporated the horse in many forms. From the gold harness fittings of the Scythians, a nomadic culture famed for its horse-centred art, to Hellenic signet rings carved with steeds and chariots, the horse has been a consistent subject for jewellers. It has appeared on amulets worn for protection, on brooches that signal lineage or rank, and on small charms exchanged as wishes for luck.

As the next Year of the Horse draws nearer, equestrian motifs are appearing more frequently in recent jewellery releases. Some present the horse in figurative forms, while others approach it through mythology or symbolism.