would visit later. The site is part of a gigantic mausoleum and the more than 2000 years old warriors were originally constructed to protect the tomb of the Emperor Qin Shi Huang. (For a full explanation of the warriors and their significance, please see the blog on Emperor Qin's Terra Cotta Warriors).We stopped at a government run terra cotta factory, which means that the prices are fixed, but the quality guaranteed to be authentic. Visitors are given a tour and then an 'opportunity' to purchase some of the goods.
As soon as I stepped inside I knew my mom and other artist friends would have enjoyed seeing the demonstrations and factory.
The terra cotta items, mostly replicas of the warriors, are made from the clay taken from a spot right near the original site. There's a heap of clay in one corner of the building covered with plastic.
The clay is quite firm and is pressed into molds to
get the basic figure. However , they are done in the traditional way with bodies first. Arms and heads are added later.The clay figures are dried for at least a week (longer for the large life-sized ones), then baked in the kilns at temperatures of 900 degrees C for 1 week (2 weeks for large ones.)
A variety of sizes are made, along with replicas of the horses that were found in the actual mausoleum.
When the heads are done, the faces are individually created so that no two warriors look the same. There are four basic styles; the officers, crouching crossbowmen and bowmen infantry, and cavalry. The differences can be distinguished by the head gear/hair. Two knots mean it was a general. The ones with long square caps are the captains and are the middle rank. Those with one knot are the warriors, and those with one knot kneeling are the archers. The flat-headed ones are the horsemen.
The factory has expanded its wares to include other figures, like elephants, ducks, horses, etc that have special meaning in Chinese culture.
They have also made a few statues out of other materials like Jade.
