Chinese Tang Dynasty Camel
8th Century AD.
The T'ang Dynasty existed in China from 618 to 906 AD This was a period when the Chinese artisans depicted camels and other exotic animals that were not indigenous to the area. Chinese traders traveled overland from Changan (Xian), which was the largest city in the world at that time, to the Middle East; the traders would then return home with some of these animals. The artisans would see them and then expressed them in various art forms.
The camel that Mike restored is approximately 1200 years old. It is made from pottery and most of the paint is still original. Even though the camel had survived for so many years, the 1994 earthquake split it into many pieces. From this photo one can appreciate the difficulty in restoring such an old and fragile piece.
But Mike did it! He pieced together the parts that he had; then he filled in the missing parts with pieces of clay. He did nothing to alter the camel from what it was before the earthquake. One can still admire the color of the original paint.
When Mike restored the camel, it was the property of the Asia Pacific Museum.
You are probably wondering how a restoration of a T'ang Camel could relate to your projects. Do you currently own or would you like to purchase a carousel animal? With the closing of so many turn-of-the-century amusement parks, many of these animals are readily available. They are painstakingly hand-carved from wood and are absolutely wonderful when restored. If you are lucky enough to own or to buy one, let Mike restore the animal to its original and handsome condition. They are truly collector's items that you and your friends can enjoy (and play with!) forever. If horses aren't your favorite, there are other animals, such as cats, rabbits, and dogs.
Sample Restorations
Japanese Screen
