The Tang dynasty (618-907 A.D.) is arguably the most significant time period in the evolution of Chinese ceramics because porcelain, the epitome of Chinese stoneware, was discovered during this dynasty. Even more astounding, porcelain is not the only development that occurred during the Tang dynasty. Sancai, also known as “three-colour” wares, were also developed using new high-lead glazes that produced a plethora of color combinations (Hook 409). Another addition was marbled pottery, which used different colored clays to create a swirled look that was painted with a transparent glaze (409). The final development was expanding the repertoire of shapes of vessels, many of which were influenced by contacts with the West. During this time, vases and bowls became quite novel and popular. The interest in different clay colors used in the marbled pottery helped bring about the discovery of porcelain, which “evolved out of the conscious attempts to produce a pure white clay body” (Tharp).