Pair of Sancai-glazed White Earthenware Circular Boxes and Covers

Tang dynasty, 618 - 907

The floral design on these boxes was produced using a ‘resist’ technique. Wax or powdered kaolin was employed to create the design of flowerheads. The glaze was then applied to the surface of each box but the resist material stopped the glaze from adhering, leaving the floral pattern in reserve.