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.
Go To
Sample Restorations
Japanese Screen
Return to Home