Tang Dynasty Earthenware at ESKENAZI Ltd

22 janvier 2024

Tang Dynasty Earthenware at ESKENAZI Ltd

Sancai-glazed White Earthenware Ewer, Tang dynasty, 8th century. Height: 30.1cm.

ESKENAZI Ltd.

The striking amber, cream and green sancai-glaze on this unusual ewer is complemented by the crisp applied decorations on its ovoid body. Four large leafy quatrefoils are interspersed with palmettes, rosettes and smaller quatrefoils. These would have been made in moulds and applied individually to the vessel to form the rich surface decoration.

Glazed Earthenware Horse, Tang dynasty, 8th century. Height: 54.5cm Length: 56.0cm. ESKENAZI Ltd.

Powerfully modelled, with head turned to the left, this amber-glazed horse is an indication of the high value placed on horses during the Tang dynasty. Apart from their use by the government and military, horses were key in elite pastimes such as hunting and polo, with sumptuary laws governing their use. The inclusion of a large earthenware horse such as this one in a tomb was an important indicator of status and rank.

Sancai-glazed Earthenware Zodiac Figure, Tang dynasty, 618 - 907. Height: 22.2cm. ESKENAZI Ltd.

This zodiac figure is remarkable for its crisply modelled equine head, combined with its kneeling human body wearing official robes. Although full sets of unglazed zodiac animal figures are known from the Northern Wei period, sancai-glazed zodiac figures dating to the Tang dynasty are very rare. This zodiac horse would have formed part of a set of twelve to indicate the twelve-year cycle of the Chinese lunar calendar and the twelve two-hour periods in the day. This figure is notable for its fine modelling, carefully controlled sancai-glaze and above all, for the air of benign empathy that it emanates.

Amber-glazed Marbled Earthenware Cup, Tang dynasty, 618 - 907. Height: 5.2cm Width: 9.3cm. ESKENAZI Ltd

The marbled effect on this earthenware cup was produced by mixing two kinds of clay – a dark and a light colour together – and then the vessel was formed using the mixture, and covered with a straw- or amber-coloured glaze before firing.

Pair of Sancai-glazed White Earthenware Circular Boxes and Covers, Tang dynasty, 618 - 907. Diameter: 5.5cm. ESKENAZI Ltd.

The floral design on these boxes was produced using a ‘resist’ technique. Wax or powdered kaolin was employed to create the design of flowerheads. The glaze was then applied to the surface of each box but the resist material stopped the glaze from adhering, leaving the floral pattern in reserve.

Blue-glazed White Earthenware Rabbit, Tang dynasty, 618 - 907. Length: 11.5cm. ESKENAZI Ltd.

While white-glazed earthenware rabbits are known in a number of museum collections, cobalt-blue-glazed models are extremely rare. One example is in the collection of the Tokyo National Museum. In Chinese mythology, the Jade Rabbit was the companion of the goddess of the moon, Chang’e. Often shown with a pestle and mortar mixing the elixir of immortality, the rabbit is closely linked with Daoism and themes of longevity.