Tang tricolor pottery, referring to the
tri-colored glazed pottery of Tang Dynasty, is the general designation of the colorful
pottery with multi-glaze color which flourished in Tang Dynasty. Glazes are normally
green, blue, yellow, white, ochre, brown, etc. It is called "Tang Tricolor Pottery"
because the basic pigments are yellow, green and ochre.
There are various types of Tang tricolor pottery, which be classified as types of
human figurines, animals and objects. Human figurines include images of ministers,
generals, ladies, boy servants, maids, artisans and Hun people, etc. Animals include
models of horses, camels, cattle, sheep, lions and tigers, etc. Objects include
containers, stationary and tools of daily use.
In ancient days, Tang tricolor pottery was rarely used for display or as tools,
but mostly by the aristocrafts as funerary objects. It was produced in Central Plain
of China and widely used by the local officails.
When making a Tang tricolor pottery, deliberate care is taken in presenting defferent
shades of yellow, ochre, green, blue and dark purple to produce a gorgeously colorful
effect. In the process of firing, glazes would drip down the surface of a piece
of Tang tricolor pottery and get mingled so as to cause a myraid of changes. Due
to the delicacy in making, no two pieces are identical.
The artistic modeling of Tang tricolor pottery well reflects the life of the society
at that time. Robust and elegant warriors. Heavenly King, strong and rampant horses,
and camels all indicate the prosperity of the early Tang Dynasty. Female figurines
of Tang Dynasty all look plump, showing that plumpness was regarded as a kind of
beauty at that time.
Tang tricolor pottery is of such great variety in terms of shapes, postures and
colors that it is regarded as uniquely Chinese.
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