Craft:Chinese traditional handicraft with thousands of years history

Origin:Luoyang

Tang San Cai, also called Tricolor Glazed Pottery and a gem of ancient Chinese art, is a kind of handmade glazed ware of exquisite craftsmanship created in the Northern and Southern Dynasty (386-589) about 1,400 years ago. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the production of Tang San Cai reached its peak, which is part of the reason the pottery got the name of Tang San Cai.

Luoyang, named the eastern capital in ancient times, in Henan Province was the home of Tang San Cai, and most of unearthed Tang San Cai was found in Luoyang.

Tang San Cai is a polychrome handicraft with yellow, green, and white as its major tones. It is fired with lead glaze and presents a harmonious complex of varied colors, deep and light. The process is complicated: first, bake the ready mode in kilns until the temperature reaches 1,100oC, then take it out and apply glaze on it; bake it again in kilns at a temperature of about 900¡ãC.

Tang San Cai items that have been unearthed include horses, humans, and even pillows, and camels, of which the pottery camel is one of the best. Its head rises high, as if telling stories about merchant caravans along the Silk Road in the remote past and the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.

Being the gem of ancient Chinese art, Tang San Cai absorbed the advantages of Chinese painting, sculpture and stone carving. It features fleshy figures, regular and exquisite technics, compact carving traces, and smooth lines, indicating the high-level of the craft reached in the Tang Dynasty. Tang San Cai is primaryly divided into pottery tomb-figures and daily commodities.

After the founding of new China, specialized institutions have been set up to study the technics of making Tang San Cai, which has boosted the development of the craft.

Rich Artistic Connotation & Historical Background:

This artwork is a Chinese classical style Tang tri-color pottery figurine, named "Phoenix Head Water Pot".

It showcases the exquisite craftsmanship and rich connotations of ancient Chinese art.

Firstly, this artwork has high historical value.

Tang tri-color is a unique style of ceramics in the Tang Dynasty, famous for its bright colors and exquisite craftsmanship.

Tang tri-color pottery figurines usually depict scenes of life and figures of the time, reflecting the customs and aesthetic concepts of the society at that time.

By studying these figurines, we can understand the social features and cultural heritage of the Tang Dynasty.

Secondly, this artwork has high artistic value.

Tang tri-color pottery figurines are known for their unique shapes, intricate details, and rich colors.

In this work, the design of the Phoenix Head Water Pot is very delicate, and the image of the phoenix is vivid, demonstrating the artist's superb skills and creativity.

In addition, this artwork also adopts traditional Tang tri-color craftsmanship, making the entire work more historical and artistic.

Finally, this artwork has high collection value.

Over time, the value of Tang tri-color pottery figurines has gradually increased, becoming the target of collectors.

For those who are interested in ancient Chinese art, owning such a precious artwork not only allows them to appreciate its beautiful appearance but also enables them to feel the history and cultural connotations contained within it.

In conclusion, the "Phoenix Head Water Pot" is a Chinese classical style Tang tri-color pottery figurine with high historical value, artistic value, and collection value.

It not only demonstrates the exquisite craftsmanship and rich connotations of ancient Chinese art but also provides us with an opportunity to understand the social features and cultural heritage of ancient times.

 Listen in the gallery