The Origin of Tang Dynasty Three-color Horses Size

Horses are the most common subject in Tang Three-color pottery. Three-colored horses, usually used as burial objects, were very popular in the Tang Dynasty, and there were three-colored horses with a height of more than 1 meter. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, due to the decline of national strength, three-colored pottery production began to gradually shrink, including three-colored horse, including the quality of the artifacts is not as good as before. Song and Liao period around the three-color workshop still exists, but the process and decoration has been with the Tang Dynasty three-color ware has a markedly different.

Tang three-color horse origin

As a Chinese art treasure, Tang three-color horse can be multi-directional refraction of the brilliant Tang culture, not only provides people with the understanding of China's Tang culture and the historical value of the valuable physical information, but also makes a batch after batch of Chinese and foreign Tang three-color horse

collectors for its artistic charm by the fall. Tang Three-colored horse has a huge potential for investment and preservation of value, and thus a long time by domestic and foreign businessmen's attention, and sitting on the throne of the highest price of Chinese ceramic art auction. According to archaeological discoveries, the Tang Three-colored only began production in the Gaozong period, because before that no three-colored ware found in the tomb. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong, the Tang dynasty became stronger and stronger, and the ruling class became more and more extravagant. The dignitaries look forward to death can still enjoy the glory and wealth, and therefore in their own tombs are always buried with a large number of treasures and three-colored ware, so that the style of burial is flourishing. Due to the surge in social demand, so that the production of three-colored ware overdevelopment trend, the Tang dynasty had to set up a specialized agency responsible for the management and control, and promulgated regulations on the burial of three-colored ware to implement the restrictions, such as the provisions of the number of officials at all levels of the burial of: "more than ninety things of the third grade (pieces, sets); more than sixty things of the fifth grade; more than forty things of the ninth grade,". And the height of various artifacts should be within one foot. However, according to archaeological excavations, the number and height of the burial medallions mostly exceeded the regulations. Some of the three-colored horse has been as high as 1 meter or more. At the end of the Tang dynasty, due to the decline of national strength, three-colored ware production also began to gradually shrink, the quality is not as good as before. Song and Liao period around the three-color workshop still exists, but the process and decoration has been significantly different from the Tang Dynasty three-color ware.

Edit this section of the Tang Three-color horse modeling

Three-color horse shape is large, complex structure, can not use ordinary hand-pulled billet method to complete, so more molding method molding. Although it is a mold production, but all the three-colored horse has its own characteristics, almost can't find exactly the same three-colored horse to. From the existing three-colored horse can be seen, the Tang dynasty three-colored craftsmen are not only very familiar with the characteristics of the horse's appearance, but also on the horse's demeanor, temperament also has a deep understanding. Therefore, the molding up at ease. They not only make the three-colored horse in appearance to achieve a very realistic, and give full play to the artistic imagination, the appropriate use of artistic exaggeration, so that the inner spirit of the horse is expressed to the fullest. From the Tang Three-colored horse modeling, can be roughly divided into five categories. First, the running horse figurines. Such as Tengkong galloping horse terracotta, unearthed in Xi'an in 1966, the Tang Three-color horse

[1] is now hidden in the Xi'an Municipal Administration of cultural relics. Tang dynasty three color sculptor seized the galloping horse four hooves in the air for a moment of the scene, shaped a very dynamic three color horse, its "bamboo batch two ears grim, the wind into the four hooves light" image has a very strong visual effect, let a person evocative. Running horse figurines in the excavation of painted pottery have been found, but in the excavation of Tang three-color is extremely rare. According to existing information, the domestic collection of three-colored ware hanging blue glaze riding horse figurines only this one, foreign countries have not yet found a similar three-colored horse figurines. Second, the legged horse figurines. Tang three color horse figurines usually three hooves on the ground, the right front hoof raised. This hanging blue glaze three color horse idea is very subtle, three hooves on a triangular base plate, front leg straight, back leg bow, right front leg slightly raised, leg muscles highlighting the robust. Tang Dynasty craftsmen seized the characteristics of the horse, shaped a lifelike, exceptionally fit image of a war horse. Third, the horse people figurines. Immediately human figurines is an important variety of Tang Three-color horse. Three colors on the horse figurines of mounts are generally used in a standing position, while the horse is colorful, both hunting and archery, and polo players; both Hu, and Han; both men, and women. Immediately Hu people are usually deep-eyed high nose, fall cheek beard, face rugged, muscular, reflecting the strong and bold. Immediately on the female figurines are graceful, gorgeous clothes, hair buns towering, full-bodied, valiant and heroic. Fourth, horse-drawn cart figurines. In three color horse figurines, horse pulling figurines rarer. Although the body shape of the horse pulling the car is not large, but the modeling is exceptionally realistic. Horse head high, eyes wide open, looking up to the sky and whistling, while the horse's tail up, angry, so that a static work highlights the sense of movement. Five is standing horse figurines. Standing horse figurine is the most common varieties of Tang three colors, namely, four legs upright in the rectangular base plate above the three colors of the horse, but the three colors of the standing horse is no shortage of fine products. The horse is 40 centimeters high, the body is white, stretching the neck and head, decorative craftsmanship is extremely exquisite, any detail is handled meticulously, such as neatly combed horsehair, apricot leaf-shaped ornaments and saddle blankets on the green trim, etc., none of them is not so. The horse was unearthed in 1959 in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province and is now in the Shaanxi Provincial Museum.

Edit this section of the Tang Three-color horse decoration

The decoration of the Tang Three-color horse is very rich, decorative techniques are varied, so that the people have a common and often new feeling. Its decorative techniques are:

Color band decoration method

This is a use of glaze fluidity, in a certain part of the base glaze Tang three-color horse

Brush on the thick color glaze, let it flow naturally and the formation of a mottled color band of decorative techniques, is the three-color horse is one of the most common decorative techniques.

Dot color decoration method

That is, with a brush in the body of the horse dyed glaze spots of various colors, or in the dark glaze on the light spots, or in the light glaze on the dark spots, so that the sparse and dense, presenting a natural effect. Usually the blue-colored horses are more expensive. Such as Figure 9 and Figure 15. Figure 15 of this blue-colored horse, the Republic of China in the early years of the loss of overseas three-colored ware, now in the United States San Francisco Asian Art Museum. This three-colored horse is not only novel and unique shape, and the use of appliqué method in the saddle cape affixed plastic stirrups. This is unique in the decoration of the three-colored horse.

Appliqué decoration method

To be molded a good variety of decorations on the three-colored horse in a certain part of the horse, so that the horse looks more noble and dignified. Common decorations are saddles, blankets, bells, Baoxiang flowers, and so on.

Tire decorative method

Also known as churning tire, that is, imitating the marble pattern of a decorative technique, its operation, the past statement is different, after years of efforts of domestic researchers have now basically mastered. From the excavation of the three-color look, the Tang Three-color pattern actually has three forms of artistic expression: one is the body of the body made with tire technology, that is, the first white, ochre two colors of clay were made into a thin slice of clay, and then layers stacked, billeting or hand-kneading molding, so that the billet tire presents marble or similar to the pattern of the annual cycle of the trees. The second is the pasted surface stranded tire, that is, the stranded tire pattern sheet pasted on the outside of the artifact, so that the local artifacts show stranded tire pattern. The third is imitation stranded tire. 1971 Qianxian Tang dynasty Yi De Prince Li Chongrun tomb unearthed archery horse human figurines, that is, imitation stranded three color masterpiece. The horse figurine is 36 centimeters high and is now in the Shaanxi Provincial Museum. The marble pattern of its body is actually not made by the whole shape of the stranded tire technology, but painted on the tire with a brush, then glazed, and then fired in the kiln. Its body lines appear more proportional and appropriate, and smooth lines, rounded color, its artistic expression is far better than the stranded pattern.

Pulled hair decorative method

That is, in the saddle part of the horse through the carving to form a kind of coarse woolen blanket effect. This decorative technique is often seen in the three-color camel, three-color horse is less common. There is an extremely valuable three-color horse pull hair, 75 cm high, body brown, head small neck long, ears upright, saddle leather Zhan all, leather belt is decorated with green toad pattern apricot leaf, saddle outside the paste plastic large green blanket, body posture robust bone and flesh, make people unforgettable. 1981 was unearthed in Luoyang, Henan Province, An Bodhi tomb, now hides the Henan Provincial Museum.

Edit this section of the Tang three color horse identification

Tang three color in the early twentieth century was found, did not cause the domestic collection of attention, mainly because it is the burial of the medieval artifacts, not very auspicious. But foreigners have no such scruples, acquisition, and eventually make a large number of three colorful ware boutique out of the country. When the domestic collection Tang three color horse

[2] wake up, three color resources have been nearly depleted. Since then, the Tang three-color this represents the crystallization of the culture of the Sheng Tang ancient works of art by thousands of counterfeiters to make a face. Especially in recent years, the domestic collection of hot unabated, the economic value of the Tang Three-color in the international auction activities, and further activate the greed of the forgers. In this context, a variety of three color fakes with unprecedented number of influx into the domestic market, so that the collector is difficult to distinguish between the real and the fake. But the fake is fake, as long as the collector really grasp the characteristics of the Tang three-color, identify the authenticity of the Tang three-color is not difficult.

Glaze

General books on the identification of the Tang Three-color are modeling, tire, glaze as the identification of the three elements. But in the case of high imitation Tang three color fakes pattern constantly renovated, it has been difficult to find high imitation Tang three color from the tire and styling of the cracks. The only way to solve this problem is to grasp the characteristics of the Tang three color glaze. Tang Sancai real surface glaze layer is thicker, generally in 0.12 to 0.15 mm or so, the glaze in the bubble is very little, with the naked eye, the surface cracks are not obvious, more will not have horizontal and vertical long lines open piece. As more brush glaze method, glaze uniformity, such as glaze method glaze, but also only at the bottom of the glaze thick to see the uneven thickness. Essentially, the Tang Three-color is a bright glaze, its luster bright and soft, with the surface of the ancient porcelain glistening sense. And fakes usually have a dazzling surface "thief light", which is mainly due to the imitation of the glaze within the vitreous component is too high. But for the high imitation of Tang three colors, with the naked eye has been very difficult to distinguish the authenticity of the glaze from the gloss, must use a high magnifying glass. As the Tang three color are unearthed, buried underground for more than 1000 years, the glaze surface will form an extremely special physical phenomenon, that is, the folk said "warped skin pattern" or "sesame glaze", looks like some fine small open flakes, uniform size, transparent and light, the flakes on both sides of the pattern, and the glaze is very light. Light, the glaze on both sides of the flake pattern slightly upward cocking, rarely separated, so the flake pattern is generally no impurities immersed in the phenomenon. But the surface deglazing serious three-color horse figurines, flake pattern will have separation phenomenon. And imitations are generally larger open piece, the piece of grain is also longer, horizontal and vertical is very unstable, there is a difference between the two. So far, the counterfeiters have not been able to imitate the same as the genuine Tang three-color "warped skin pattern" to. Therefore, with or without "warped skin pattern" is the most hard basis for identification of Tang three-color.

Modeling

Genuine Tang Sancai horse from the modeling, generally is the head of a small neck, long, strong fat, developed hips, legs strong and powerful, everywhere can be seen an inner, real beauty. Its eyes, ears, sinews, muscles and other local carving fine, skillful knife work, in line with the characteristics of the entity horse. And imitations are often only see its shape, do not see its God, the organs of the various parts of the proportion is out of proportion, the lines are hard. High imitation Tang three color horse in appearance generally impeccable, but in the horse's demeanor there will always be some flaws. Especially the official tomb unearthed three color horse, its decorations, pieces of ornaments are meticulous workmanship, very in place. And imitations are very difficult to do everywhere seamless. Genuine three-color horse is the use of mold molding method, double mold left and right together and become, local repair tire. Horse belly in the middle of a hole, through the hole can clearly see the ridge of the horse to leave traces of molding, and can see the wall left some irregular handmade traces. And imitations of the interior is usually smooth. Genuine three-color horse tail and body are integrated, especially the tail is often damaged. Imitations of the larger often used in the production of pieces, some in the tail of the horse left a jack, fired and then inserted, and then glazed the second firing and become. As a result, the horse's tail broken is often difficult to conceal.

Tire

Most of the genuine Tang Three-color horse tire after repeated washing, few impurities, with the naked eye to observe the relatively soft and delicate. However, there are still some differences between Shaanxi and Luoyang Tang Three-colored horse in the tire. Most of the Shaanxi three-colored horse tires are white, or white in red, more fine particles in the tire, appear slightly rough, not as delicate as the Luoyang production feel. Some products are slightly roughly trimmed body, not as Tang three-color horse

Luoyang production clean. Some have short "kiln cracks" at the bottom. Observed with a magnifying glass, you can see subtle iron-brown impurities, the weight of the body is slightly heavier than the three-colored horse produced in Luoyang. Three-colored horse produced in Luoyang, the tire is more white and delicate. The nature of the porcelain clay used with the same kaolin, with the characteristics of the firm, soft and sticky. The basic color is white, there are white slightly yellowish. Exposed tire at the feel extremely fine and moist, but still very high hardness. Imitations usually due to the raw material washing is not clean, so that the tire impurities are more, appear more rough. Some imitations of the fire is not mastered properly, will make the tire too hard, knocking will emit a similar porcelain crisp sound. For the high imitation of three-color horse, only from the texture of the tire has been unable to reliably identify its authenticity. Encountered this situation can only be considered from other aspects.

Makeup soil

Tang three-color horse base plate and the head of the horse are generally not glazed, Tang Dynasty craftsmen in the production of three-color horse in the base plate and the head of the horse to brush on a layer of white make-up soil, and then according to the needs of the horse in the head of a variety of pigments on the color of the open phase. Because of the three-colored horse buried in the ground for thousands of years, after the excavation of the three-colored horse base plate and the horse on the face of the human make-up soil often appear mottled off the phenomenon, the natural formation of this defect presents a kind of natural beauty, but also an important basis for us to identify the authenticity.

Other

In addition, there are many ways to identify the authenticity of the Tang Three-colored horse. For example, most of the Tang Three-color horses stand on a base plate, usually standing horse base plate are rectangular, diamond-shaped, front corner and hollow base plate is relatively rare. Lift the legs of the three-colored horse base plate is mostly triangular, other shapes are more rare. The size of the base plate of each horse, thick and thin have a certain law to follow, generally corresponds to the shape of the horse, large horse with large base plate, medium horse with medium base plate, small horse with small base plate. So far, have not found a three-color horse base plate and horse body does not match. The bottom plate of the imitation leg lifting horse is usually made into a rectangular shape and lacks a sense of age, so one should be extra careful when encountering this kind of three-colored horse.

Edit this section of the Tang Three-color horse cleaning

Three-color horse buried in the ground for thousands of years, will always be stained with a variety of dirt, unearthed generally difficult to reveal its own brilliance, the need to carry out the necessary cleaning, in order to remove the dirt. The preferred method is to use water cleaning or mechanical method to remove dirt. However, the three-colored horse's base plate and the head of the horse is usually not glazed, some three-colored horse is only partially glazed, in the cleaning of these unglazed parts should be extra careful. You can use a brush to gently brush, or use a cotton ball dipped in water to gently wipe to remove dirt. If the three-colored horse surface by limestone (carbonate), gypsum (sulfate) and silica (silicate) and other chemicals, with water is very difficult to remove, you must use chemical decontamination method. For example, it can be cleaned with 10% hydrochloric acid. Without affecting the colored glaze, the gypsum deposits, can also be cleaned with nitric acid; silicon deposits are generally descaled by mechanical methods, can also be removed with 1% hydrofluoric acid, but hydrofluoric acid is highly toxic, should try to avoid using. If the surface of the three-colored horse at the same time there are a variety of unknown deposits, usually in accordance with the first calcareous, then gypsum, and finally siliceous procedures for removal.