Bidspirit auction | Tang Dynasty, Sancai with Blue

Tang Dynasty, Sancai with Blue Glaze Laozi Passing the Pass - This piece is a Tang Dynasty sancai-glazed and blue-splashed pottery sculpture depicting the legendary Laozi riding an ox. The blue ox stands firmly on all four legs with a robust, well-rounded body. Its head is slightly raised, ears pricked, eyes wide and round, with broad nostrils and a square muzzle, conveying a gentle yet spirited expression. A saddle and blanket are set on its back, with the blanket texture rendered through incised lines in a concise yet vivid manner. The tail hangs naturally, its tuft touched with green glaze that echoes the main color scheme of the body. Laozi sits upright on the ox's back in a composed posture, wearing a black futou cap rendered in precious cobalt-blue glaze—a rare and highly valued addition in Tang sancai wares. His face is covered in white glaze, with simplified yet expressive brows and eyes, and flowing whiskers. He wears a crossed-collar robe predominantly glazed in yellow-green, where the glaze naturally runs and blends, pooling to deeper tones in the folds. The wide sleeves drape in fluid lines, and his hands appear tucked within the sleeves or holding the reins, conveying an air of serene composure. The entire sculpture is covered in the characteristic Tang sancai palette of yellow, green, amber, and white, with splashes of cobalt blue applied to the ox's mane and the figure's headgear. The blue glaze is rich and jewel-like, creating a striking contrast against the warmer yellow and amber tones and adding an air of opulence. The glaze is thick and lustrous, with visible areas of natural drip and intermingling between colors, producing a brilliantly variegated effect. The base and ox's hooves reveal the unglazed body of pinkish-white, relatively porous clay typical of Tang pottery sculpture. The overall modeling is vivid and lifelike, with harmonious proportions between figure and mount, and the exuberant glaze colors radiate the bold, magnificent spirit of Tang Dynasty ceramic art.