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About this work
This Tang dynasty (618–907) three-footed offering plate or dish is decorated with sancai (three-colour) lead glazes. The term actually refers to a palette that could include more than three colours, and in this example cobalt oxide blue glaze, a mineral pigment introduced into Chinese ceramics at this time, has been added to the standard three colours of brown, cream and green. Cobalt would later be used in blue-and-white underglaze decoration, beginning in the Yuan dynasty. The cobalt blue was probably imported from sources in Iran, reflecting the cosmopolitanism of Tang-period China.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Henan / Shaanxi province, north China, China
Accession Number
3689-D3
Department
Asian Art
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation
Physical description
Flat with shallow sides and everted rim: incised with roundel of flying goose with three 'clouds' dots, with inner ring of seven stylized fungus and outer ring of seven lotus leaves, with stylized 'paw' feet.