Tri-color glazed pottery figures of the Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty (618-907) gave birth to tri-color glazed pottery figurines, which are recognized as representing the peak of ancient Chinese pottery sculptural art. Production of such figurines calls for a temperature ranging from 800 to 1,100 C to ensure that colors of the glaze are bright but not transparent. Yellow, green and brown are the main colors, hence the "tri-color glazed pottery figurines." Supplementary colors include blue and black.
As an art form, tri-color glazed pottery figures peaked under Emperor Xuan Zong, who happened to be an art lover and a womanizer at the same time and, probably under his influence, extravagance and wastefulness characterized the lifestyle under his reign. Female figurins produced during this period invariably have chubby faces and are in well filled-out shapes, with high hair buns, long skirts and composed facial expressions.
Nevertheless, even better known are tri-color pottery steeds produced during the Tang Dynasty. The four steeds unearthed from a tomb built in the year 723 for General Xianyu Tinghui are recognized as the most beautiful. These animals are all more than 50 centimeters tall. Two of them are white and the other two, yellow with white hooves, as well as white stripes round their long necks.
The saddles and bridles are colorful with decorative patterns of golden flowers and leaves. Two of the horses have on their manes a three-flower pattern popular at the time, and the manes of the other two each bear a single pattern. Another master piece unearthed from the same tomb is a camel carrying four musicians and a dancer on its back, the dancer, in green costumes, obviously belonging to a Chinese ethnic minority group.
About the book
Chinese Cultural Relics Written by Li Li Published by China Intercontinental Press
The Tang Dynasty (618-907) gave birth to tri-color glazed pottery figurines, which are recognized as representing the peak of ancient Chinese pottery sculptural art. Production of such figurines calls for a temperature ranging from 800 to 1,100 C to ensure that colors of the glaze are bright but not transparent. Yellow, green and brown are the main colors, hence the "tri-color glazed pottery figurines." Supplementary colors include blue and black.
As an art form, tri-color glazed pottery figures peaked under Emperor Xuan Zong, who happened to be an art lover and a womanizer at the same time and, probably under his influence, extravagance and wastefulness characterized the lifestyle under his reign. Female figurins produced during this period invariably have chubby faces and are in well filled-out shapes, with high hair buns, long skirts and composed facial expressions.
Nevertheless, even better known are tri-color pottery steeds produced during the Tang Dynasty. The four steeds unearthed from a tomb built in the year 723 for General Xianyu Tinghui are recognized as the most beautiful. These animals are all more than 50 centimeters tall. Two of them are white and the other two, yellow with white hooves, as well as white stripes round their long necks.
The saddles and bridles are colorful with decorative patterns of golden flowers and leaves. Two of the horses have on their manes a three-flower pattern popular at the time, and the manes of the other two each bear a single pattern. Another master piece unearthed from the same tomb is a camel carrying four musicians and a dancer on its back, the dancer, in green costumes, obviously belonging to a Chinese ethnic minority group.
About the book
Chinese Cultural Relics Written by Li Li Published by China Intercontinental Press
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