Pillow

early 8th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 207

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 唐 三彩陶枕
  • Title: Pillow
  • Period: Tang dynasty (618–907)
  • Date: early 8th century
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Earthenware with three-color (sancai) glaze
  • Dimensions: H. 2 in. (5.1 cm); W. 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm); D. 3 in. (7.6 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Robert West, 1950
  • Object Number: 50.221.14
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

Audio

Cover Image for 8990. Overview: Tang Dynasty - Glazed Pottery

8990. Overview: Tang Dynasty - Glazed Pottery

Gallery 207

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These are the glazes which are made by the elements of metal added to the glaze that would bring out the reddish-brown, the green, or even the blue.

Among this, you will see all kinds of patterns. By this time, they would even imitate the patterns in textiles. One of the things which is very special is about a marbleized surface or what we call the marbleized glaze. On the very far end of the case, you will see this little pillow, which is the brown color, but has a very elaborate pattern. It shows the marbleized turning of the lines.

They would use two kinds of clays: very dark clay and light clay. Then they would twist them so much that they become mixed. Then they would cut them into thin slices to use them as a veneer onto the surface of the pottery, so that the pattern doesn't go through the entire object. It's really a thin veneer on surface. And then they would apply the glaze on top, over that. After firing, it would stay on the surface, which would look like this very beautiful, exuberant pattern.

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