The Tang Tricolor Glazed Pottery and The Chinese Purple Clay Pottery
2 min readAncient Pottery Products
The shapes of pottery products made in the period from the Shang and Zhou to the Han and Tang were mostly derived from images of humans and things in society，the former being the main theme of modeling and design.The terracotta warriors mentioned above reflected the might of the State of Qin and the gallantry and bravery of its soldiers.Various models of other pottery products unearthed from the ruins of Han tombs reflected the various aspects of social life of the Han period.The figures of officials，musicians，dancers，acrobats and many others are also fine art works reflecting the cultural and economic development of the Tang period.Moreover，many colored glazed pottery works modeled in the shape of horses andcamels in the Han and Tang Periods showed the use of animals at that time，profoundly reflecting people’s understanding of nature and humankind and the humanistic spirit in the periods under review.
Tang Tricolor Glazed Pottery
The fine example of beautifully crafted pottery is the tricolor glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty（618-907）.The pieces were created by adding various metals oxide and baking at a low temperature.The glazed pottery would appear to be light yellow，reddish brown，shamrock or light green.The most popular were those of yellow，brown and green.The sculpting of figures，animals or daily appliances was amazingly in accord with the characteristics of Tang art-graceful and lively.Preferred by many foreigners to the region，the tricolor glazed pottery had been transported all over the world.
Chinese Purple Clay Pottery
Another choice pottery that won great reputation for hundreds of years is purple clay pottery.It is well-known for its mild color，condensed structure，high intensity and fine particles.As early as the Song Dynasty（960-1279），people found purple clay teapots to look much more graceful than those of other materials.In the Ming and Qing Dynasties，tea developed as a simple and tasteful art.People who liked drinking tea held firm to the belief that tea in the purple clay pot smelled balmier and could retain the original quality；these teapots transferred heat slower and were more endurable of heat；after long times use，the teapot would not fade but become more lustrous.Modern people still delight in this classic fashion ideal.
