Chang'an - Ceramics have become a very popular choice of work these past few years, as the great Tang dynasty rules over China. These new types of ceramics are very different from past Chinese statues, which were very stiff and unrealistic. Now, they have evolved into extremely lifelike and detailed pieces of art.
Many of the favored ceramic statues are of women, usually either slender or plump, horses, portrayed as energetic and loyal, and camels carrying loads of silk and spices. In the tombs of noblemen people are putting sculptures of buildings for the deceased to live in during their afterlife. Frightening guardian spirits are even being placed at the entrance of tombs to scare away demons.
These intricate sculptures are made out of white clay, which is molded into the figures and covered with cream glaze, fired in a kiln. A second glaze is added, this time with pigments added for color. Some of the colors used are copper for green, cobalt for deep blue, and iron oxide for colors ranging from soft yellow to amber. If this glaze is fired onto the clay, the colors will mix and leave a beautiful effect on the sculpture known as three-color ware.
Although these are popular types of ceramics, perhaps the most popular are white porcelains. Mainly produced in the Hebei province, these pieces of art are very thin and translucent, some even as clear as glass. New techniques are even being developed to decorate the beautiful white sculptures with brightly colored designs.
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