Clay Figurine
Clay figurine is one of antiquated folk arts in China. The clay is taken as raw material and manually kneaded into a figurine and the sculptures are mainly the characters and animals. This kind of art can date back to the Neolithic Period. The time of pottery pig and sheep unearthed in Hemudu ancient cultural relic of Zhejiang Province is about six thousand to seven thousand years ago; the time of antique pottery, clay pig and clay sheep head unearthed in Peiligang ancient cultural relic of Xinzheng, Henan Province is about seven thousand years ago. However it was until the Ming and Qing dynasties that the clay figurine had been substantially produced and became one of the main artworks in the mass's cultural life.
The art of clay figurine is divided into two branches in China: Wuxi Huishan Clay Figurine and Tianjin "Clay Figurine Zhang". The Huishan Clay Figurine which stems from the western suburb of Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province begun in the Southern Dynasty and flourished in the Ming Dynasty and had a history of over one thousand years. The most famous character of "Big A' fu" is rich and brisk, deep and concise in sculpture, bright and ardent in color, full of a rich native tinge. Tianjin "Clay Figurine Zhang" was initiated in Daoguang Period of the Qing Dynasty and had a history of 180 years. Zhang Mingshan (1826-1906) was the initiator of "Clay Figurine Zhang". It is said that he could complete a lifelike clay figurine with vivid facial expression in a minute while sitting and talking to others. Xu Beihong, the famous contemporary Chinese painter, applauded him as a great folk sculptor in China.
In 1992, the representative works "Big A'fu" of Huishan clay figurine was designated as the tourism mascot at that year by the State Tourism Bureau; at a Chinese modern art gallery in Ashiya, Japan, a special display room was built for the painted sculptures of Tianjin "Clay Figurine Zhang". The art of clay figurine has already walked out of the national gate and become an envoy for the communication between the Chinese and foreign cultures and been gradually accepted and cherished by more and more nations and people.
"Painted Clay Figurine Zhang" of Tianjin is a popular folk artifact that first started during Emperor Daoguang's reign of the Qing Dynasty, with a development history of over 180 years. The "Clay Figurine Zhang" painted sculptures raised the traditional clay figuring making to the artistic level of circular engraver, with the adornment of colors and props, forming a unique style. "Clay Figurine Zhang" features a wide range of subjects and is applied with simple and elegant colors, with special attention paid to raw material selection. That's why the works can last a long time without getting dried or cracked. The figures and animals of "Clay Figurine Zhang" bear resemblance to the real thing in both appearance and spirit.
泥人
泥人是中国一种历史悠久的民间艺术。它是使用泥土为原料，手工揉成人物、动物的形象。这种艺术可以追溯到新石器时代。浙江省河姆渡遗址出土的陶瓷猪、羊，制作时间可以追溯至6千年到7千年前；河南省新郑出土的这古董粘土羊、猪头大约是7千年前的产物。然而直到明清两代, 泥人才开始被广泛制作并成为群众文化生活中一个主要的手艺。 
泥人艺术有两个流派: 无锡——惠山泥人和天津“泥人张”。惠山泥人起源于江苏无锡西郊，出现于南朝活跃在明代,有一千多年的历史。最著名的泥塑形象“大阿福”活泼轻快、线条简洁具有深度，色彩明亮殷切, 充满了丰富的本土的痕迹。天津“泥人张”是创始于清代道光时期, 有180年历史。张名山(1826——1906年)是“泥人张”是创始人。据说他能一边与人交谈一边完成一个表情生动、栩栩如生的泥人。徐悲鸿是著名的中国当代画家, 他同时也是个伟大的民族雕塑家。
1992年, 惠山泥人最具代表性的作品——“大阿福”被国家旅游局指定为旅游的吉祥物; 在日本芦屋市的一个中国现代艺术画廊特别为天津“泥人张” 雕塑建了一所展厅。泥人艺术已走出了国门,成为沟通中国和外国的文化的特使，逐渐接受并被越来越多的国家和人民所接受和喜爱。
天津彩塑泥人张是在清朝道光皇帝期间发展起来的, 有超过180年历史的民间工艺品。“泥人张”将传统的黏土雕塑提升至艺术水平, 以其丰富的色彩装饰和小道具, 形成了一套独特风格。“泥人张”题材广泛, 用色简单而优雅, 特别注重原料的选择。这就是为什么我们的成品能持续很长一段时间没有变干、破碎。 “泥人张”赋予彩塑人物、动物形象与真实的物品形似的外观和精神。
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