Description：

Porcelain making in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) showed more prominent progress, as demonstrated by the emergence of some famous kilns with distinctive characteristics, and the appearance of two major schools known as white in the north and blue in the south. The technique of creating color glaze in this period far outdid that of previous dynasties, with new achievements.

During this period, porcelain wares with blue glaze, multi-colored glaze and blended glazes emerged. Since the emergence of the primitive porcelain in the Shang Dynasty (17th-11thcentury BC), the light green celadon had been the mainstream of all glazed porcelains. The glassy translucent glaze became purer and more verdant after more than 2,000 years of development. In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), celadon from the Yue Kiln in east China’s Zhejiang Province was characterized by simple but refined shapes, jade-like glaze, solid substance and a distinctive style. White-glazed porcelains emerged around the sixth century. In the initial period, white glaze was not that pure and took on a grayish color. It was not until the Tang Dynasty that the Xing Kiln produced porcelain as white as silver and snow, which could really contend with celadon. In the period, celadon from the Yue Kiln in the south, and white porcelain from the Xing Kiln in the north were famous for their high quality.

The emergence of white porcelain injected a new vigor into Chinese porcelain craft, and was a milestone in the development history of porcelain in China. If there were no the foundation laid by white porcelain of the Xing Kiln, there would be no blue and white porcelain, the under-glaze red porcelain, the polychrome porcelain or the Famille rose porcelain that were popular in the later dynasties.

Therefore, there was a saying of “green in the south and white in the north” at that time, which occupied an important position in the development history of Chinese ceramics. From the Six Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, there were frequent cultural exchanges between China and other countries in West Asia. A bird-headed pot from Persia was introduced to China, and its influence was so great that the phoenix-headed pot appeared in the celadon, white porcelain and three-color glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty. This Tang Dynasty green-glazed phoenix-headed and dragon handled teapot was an innovative product of Yue kiln celadon at that time. From the perspective of shape, decoration, glaze color, etc., this pot has the following two characteristics: First, in terms of shape, a phoenix head cover and a pointed beak are molded through the top of the pot, which together form a graceful phoenix bird; The handle is shaped into a dragon shape, which inherits and promotes the traditional Chinese dragon and phoenix art. It is full of charm and lifelike, which is truly ingenious and unique.

Secondly, the glaze color is green and slightly yellow, giving it a simple and honest jade texture. The structure is rigorous, the layers are clear, the density is uniform, very coordinated and full of beauty. The glaze and glaze layer of this pot are thicker, greenish-green with a hint of yellow, and have a glass texture. It is smooth and round, with the legacy of northern celadon since the Northern Dynasties. It is a typical celadon utensil in the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, this celadon crested dragon handle pot , can be called a treasure among Tang Dynasty porcelains.

cultural implication

The Tang Dynasty green-glazed phoenix-headed and dragon-handled teapot is decorated with linked beads, which is reminiscent of the patterns commonly used in gold and silver craftsmanship in the Persian Sasanian Dynasty, reflecting the prosperity of cultural exchanges between China and the West in the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty green glaze phoenix head, dragon handle, ampulla and body are stenciled with a statue of a strong man, and the lower belly is sculpted with a lotus flower, reflecting the Buddhist atmosphere since the Six Dynasties.

Social evaluation

“Patterns on porcelain” by collector and antique connoisseur Ma Weidu: The famous Tang Dynasty green-glazed phoenix-headed and dragon-handled pot in the Palace Museum collection draws on the style of gold and silverware from the Western Regions. The belly is stenciled with a statue of a powerful man, and the lower belly is sculpted with a lotus flower. It reveals the atmosphere of Buddhism since the Six Dynasties, and the elegant combination of dragon handle and phoenix head is full of exotic charm.”Ancient Porcelain” by Ma Xigui, former director of the Capital Museum: The glaze is light green and slightly yellow, and the shape is beautiful and gorgeous. It is an outstanding work of celadon in the early Tang Dynasty.