Tang
Tang dynasty pottery was preceded by Chinese ceramics dating back as far as the Palaeolithic age but it wasn’t until the Tang took over from the unifying Sui dynasty in 618 that China flourished. Considered by many to be a golden age of art, culture and discovery, it was also a wonderful period of development and innovation in the world of Tang dynasty ceramics and it is why today, Tang dynasty antiques are so highly prized.
Early Tang dynasty pottery varied dramatically and used high-fire and low-fire techniques but in the 289 years of Tang dynastic rule, the most successful and sought-after pieces were Tang sancai, literally ‘three colour.’ This form of Tang dynasty ceramics is moulded earthenware with colour added in naturalistic places rather than over the entirety of the piece and the process of producing high quality Tang dynasty pottery was relatively complex for seventh and eighth century potters – the moulds are baked in kilns to around 1,100°C, then the glaze is applied and finally the temperature is reduced to 900°C and baked again.
The origins of Tang sancai – polychrome lead-glazed decorated Tang dynasty pottery – were in the northern Chinese cities of Shaanxi and Loyang and for the most part the process used varying shades of yellow, green and white, earning the nickname ‘egg and spinach’ in the west, although other colours were used.
-
M5798
£12,500A large pair of Chinese high-fired ceramic ying qing, qingbai, storage vases and covers, each applied on the slender body with twelve standing figures and a further kneeling figure, beneath high-relief dragons writhing around the neck, with the moon, or a large circular pearl supported on a cloud spray, all amongst appliqués, including a further standing figure, deer, horse, qilin and cranes beneath a pie-crust relief band, the covers surmounted by cranes.
-
M5425
£18,500Chinese pottery sancai and blue glazed pillow or wrist rest, carved on the curved top with two ducks facing each other and resting on large lotus flower heads between ruyi and amongst other plants, on a rich lapis blue ground, the four sides with chestnut and white splashes extending on three sides to the foot, the base unglazed, revealing the biscuit body.
-
3. M4833
£12,500Chinese pottery sancai, three-colour glazed miniature circular box and cover, he, with gently domed cover, straight sides with a curved foot and flat base, the glaze evenly splashed falling short at the foot rim revealing the unglazed buff-coloured body.
-
21. R1200
£45,000Chinese pottery two-colour globular pouring vessel, hu, with broad rounded body, short neck, flared rim and hexagonal spout on a gently everted foot and recessed base, covered overall in a rich and lustrous green and white splashed glaze extending on the interior of the rim with a clear glaze in the well, falling short of the foot and base revealing the buff-coloured body, the shoulder with a ribbed and raised band, the rim with a further ridge.
-
37. M5212
£POAA very fine and rare Chinese junyao lavender-glazed lotus-bud form waterpot, jixin’guan, covered overall with a rich and even lustrous lavender sky-blue glaze, extending to the interior and the base, thinning towards the light brown rim, all on a slightly splayed short unglazed brown knife-cut foot rim.
Further information on Tang
Many of these stunning Tang dynasty antiques were used as pieces that were buried with the dead for use in the afterlife, known as mingqui. They mainly took the form of horses, camels, servants and soldiers and even camel drivers from Africa and central Asia depicted by their thick beards and facial features with realistic detail unprecedented in the history of not only Tang dynasty ceramics but in all of Chinese art.
It has been suggested that no other potters of any other dynasty have been as skilful in their stunning representations of horses and consequently Tang dynasty antiques and sancai are collected and admired by collectors from around the world.
You should also check
Kangxi Biscuit and Pottery: A Private French Collection
23rd October – 3rd November 2023. 40-piece exhibition of Kangxi and 17th century wares from one private collection.
Chinese Export
Objects made in China for the purpose of being exported to the West.
Famille Verte
Objects containing underglaze blue with enamels of red, green and yellow.
