Tradition
Tang Sancai
China · 7th–10th century
Three colors for the afterlife. Green, amber, white.
The Tang dynasty's most distinctive ceramics were made for the dead—and never meant to be seen again.
Sancai means 'three colors,' though Tang potters often used more: amber, green, cream, sometimes blue. These lead-glazed earthenware pieces—horses, camels, guardian figures, vessels—were made as mingqi, burial goods for the wealthy dead. They weren't meant to be used or displayed; they accompanied the deceased into the tomb. When tombs were excavated in the 20th century, sancai became highly collectible—objects made for eternity, finally seen after a thousand years in darkness.
What would you make if no one would ever see it?
Techniques
- Lead glaze
- Multiple glazes
- Mold-made forms
- Earthenware