Tang's Elbow rest

618

907

5

9.2

11.5

HKU.C.1961.0244

The elbow rest consists of three colours (green, yellow, brown ), which are the primary colours of the Tang dynasty Sancai glaze's (University Museum and Art Gallery, 2021) . Sancai glaze , namely ‘ tri colour glaze’ ( National Museum of History Republic of China , 1988). The name ‘tri colour glaze’ can be explained by the three colours of the elbow rest above (University Museum and Art Gallery, 2021) . It can also be referred to multicolour, as
in Chinese tradition , ‘three’ means ‘several’ ( National Museum of History Republic of China , 1988).

The colours are produced by adding different chemicals to the clear glaze. ( Valenstein , 1975) For instance , green colour is produced by adding copper oxide , while yellow and brown colour is created by adding iron oxide. ( Valenstein , 1975)

Moreover ,dripping effects on the elbow rest are created during the heating process. When the clay is heated , glazes melt and freely flow down. ( National Museum of History Republic of China , 1988)


Sancai glaze is commonly used in the Tang dynasty's funerary objects, which served as ‘ming qi’, objects for the dead to use ( National Museum of History Republic of China , 1988).
The Chinese ancestor reckoned that spirits live on and can enjoy funerary objects in their afterlife ( National Museum of History Republic of China, 1988) Since Sancai is the symbol of wealth of the living world , the Tang Chinese hope to continue enjoying wealth after dead (University Museum and Art Gallery, 2021).