Figurine · Tang
Tang sancai figure
618–907 CE, Imperial China
The Tang sancai figure is the mould-made earthenware tomb figure with runny three-colour lead glazes in amber, green and cream, made from 618 to 907 CE for elite burials around Chang'an and Luoyang. Horses, camels, officials, ladies and guardian figures are the subjects. Sancai is the signature ceramic of the Tang.
| Object | Figurine |
|---|---|
| Dates | 618–907 CE |
| Period | Tang |
| Cultures | Imperial China |
| Regions | East Asia |
Diagnostic traits
Mould-made earthenware tomb figure (horse, camel, official, lady) with runny three-colour lead glazes in amber, green and cream.
Identification
Lead glazes in amber, green and cream that run and pool on a buff earthenware body distinguish it from Han green-glazed ware and from Liao and Ming sancai, which have different bodies and palettes. Unglazed faces with cold-painted details are typical. Sizes range from 20 to 80 cm.
Reproductions and fakes
Reproduced on an industrial scale in Henan and Shaanxi, with thermoluminescence defeated by irradiation in some cases; genuine figures show glaze iridescence, root marks and earth adhesion. Assembled figures from ancient and modern parts are common.
Cite this article
Stratum Study. "Tang sancai figure" (Artifact type). Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/study/types/tang-sancai-figure. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-tang-sancai-figure,
title = {Tang sancai figure},
author = {{Stratum Study}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/study/types/tang-sancai-figure}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum, commons. Accessed 2026-09-21.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.