Decortype › Ceramics & Porcelain › Earthenware & Ancient Pottery

Tang sancai

China tradition · 5 examples · indicative market tier: $5k–50k (serious collector)

Sancai (Chinese: 三彩; pinyin: sāncǎi; lit. 'three colours') is a versatile type of decoration on Chinese pottery and other painted pieces using glazes or slip, predominantly in the three colours of brown (or amber), green, and a creamy off-white. It is particularly associated with the Tang dynasty (618–907) and its tomb figures, appearing around 700. Wikipedia →

Types & examples

Amphora
Amphora, late 7th century
The Met
Tomb Guardian with Animal Head
Tomb Guardian with Animal Head, early 700s
Cleveland Museum of Art
Tomb Guardians
Tomb Guardians, early 700s
Cleveland Museum of Art
Horse
Horse, late 600s–800
Cleveland Museum of Art
Ewer
Ewer, 700–750
Cleveland Museum of Art

Where to buy

1stDibsHigh-end antiques & design marketplaceBrowse listings → LiveAuctioneersAggregated live auctions worldwideBrowse listings → InvaluableAuction-house listings & price archiveBrowse listings → Christie'sMajor-auction results & upcoming salesBrowse listings → EtsyLiving artisans & vintage dealersBrowse listings → eBayBroad secondary market — vet sellers carefullyBrowse listings →

Each link opens a live, image-rich search for this craft on that marketplace. Listings rotate constantly; authenticate significant pieces independently — attribution quality varies widely outside museum collections.