A horse-shaped glass sculpture from Liuligongfang Photo:Courtesy of the brand

Of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, the horse, or ma, is undoubtedly one of the most popular, not only because of its robust and energetic image, but also due to a cultural association that links the animal to success.

Madao chenggong is a favorite blessing among Chinese to wish others success, said especially to someone who has just begun something or embarked on a new chapter in their life. However, a humorous version of expressing one's best wishes has emerged online recently, where netizens have started posting various photos of a toy horse carrying something on its back, such as a stack of bank notes, or a mini car or house. A visual pun on the word mashang, meaning "immediately" or literally "on the horse," the playful pictures mean "May you have money/a car/a house immediately."

2014 marks the Year of the Horse in the Chinese lunar calendar, and to celebrate the forthcoming Chinese New Year, which falls on January 31, various organizations have launched festive souvenirs. Here are a handful of choices to symbolize good fortune in the auspicious year.

Festive Stamps 

The rotund horses featured on commemorative stamps released by Singapore Post have aroused heated debate on the Internet in the past few days, as many argue that the black-and-red horse images look more like plump, roasted chickens.

However, according to the designer, Leo Teck Chong, the yuan gungun (chubby) horses actually represent good wishes of caiyuan gungun (money rolling in like water) and yuanman (a complete and happy life).

Meanwhile, China Post has released its single commemorative stamp known as Jiawu Year (Year of the Horse). With a face value of 1.2 yuan ($0.20), the stamp features a white horse adorned with peony patterns, which stands for riches and honor in China, on its body and a red saddle. The saddle is ornamented with images of bats, a homophone for blessing in Chinese, and indicates that blessings and good fortune will come to you right away.

A stamp issued by China Post to celebrate the Year of the Horse Photo: CFP

Lucky coins

Last month, the People's Bank of China released 100 million commemorative coins for the Year of the Horse. Although the coins have a face value of 1 yuan, the online price for the collectible item has surged above 12 yuan. Featuring a child riding on a wooden horse on one side, the golden coin completes the series of zodiac commemorative coins released annually by the central bank since 2002.

The bank also released 16 kinds of gold and silver commemorative coins in October. Featuring a running horse on one side, the face values of the coins range from 10 yuan to 100,000 yuan. The 100,000-yuan gold coin weighs almost 10 kilograms.

On the other side of the planet, the Royal Mint released its first British legal tender coins to honor the Chinese zodiac, with the first of the series to mark the upcoming Year of the Horse.

Designed by British-Chinese artist Wuon-Gean Ho, the coins feature the portrait of the British Queen on one side and a running horse on the other side. Made of either 999 fine silver or 999.9 fine gold, the full range of coins include two silver proof coins (one ounce and five ounce), a one ounce silver bullion coin, a tenth-ounce gold brilliant uncirculated coin, a one ounce gold proof coin and a one ounce gold bullion coin. The prices range from 82.50 pounds ($135.42) to 1950 pounds.

A coin issued by the Royal Mint Photo: CFP

Designers' gift

Featuring a leaping horse with a gold crown and a gold saddle, the 46-centimeter-high glass horse sculpture Boundless Grandeur by Taiwanese glass studio Liuligongfang (195 Nanjing Road West, 6327-1678) embodies the brave spirit and power of the striking animal. Decorated with 100 shining gems, the sculpture also conveys a wish for good fortune in the Year of the Horse.

Integrating Western realism and the Eastern freehand art style, Liuligongfang presents a collection of horse sculptures titled Dragon on the Heavenly Shore. The collection is made up of two distinctive series, one of which features strong and realistic horses, while the other, catering for kids, depicts small and cute cartoon horses.

Shanghai-based designer Deng Bingbing, founder of homeware brand Pilingpalang (183 Anfu Road, 6422-7577), has created a special calendar (pictured top) for 2014, which features a different horse image for each month. There are 3D rocking horses, origami horses you can spin and change, as well as Chinese idioms and puzzles about horses on the calendar.

Meanwhile, vintage cane collector Lu Jierui is also releasing a series of luxury canes to commemorate the upcoming lunar year. The handles of the canes are carved into the shape of a horse head, the prototype of which came from a jade pendant of Qing emperor Qianlong. The body of the canes is made of a precious wood species, while the handles come in silver, gold or jade. The canes are available at Coverstory (3/F, 99 Beijing Road East, 5308-1225).

A 2014 calendar from Pilingpalang Photo:Courtesy of the brand