Very Rare Large Chinese Early Northern Wei Dynasty Glazed Pottery War Horse & Rider

Surely among the rarest of ancient Chinese pottery horses are the large glazed equestrians from Shanxi province dating to the early Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386 - 534). This is one such example. It is made from a relatively high-fired buff-coloured pottery that has been coated in a finely-crackled amber coloured glaze, save for the flat base that remains unglazed...

Made of red pottery, covered with a white slib on which the painting was applied. Some of the pigments are still remaining. H. 34 cm. Condition: very good, no traces of repair, although repairs are very common and accepted on archaeological pieces. There is paint loss and there is soil stuck to the figure. On the inside there are the remains of plant roots. A TL-test from Laboratory Kotalla confirms the authenticity of this piece. We bought three fat ladies that came from the same tomb...

Large Chinese Early Tang Dynasty Pottery Horse with Oxford TL Test

This impressive pottery horse was made during the early part of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a grey pottery and is quite "heavily-potted". The horse stands upright with its head and neck turned very slightly to its left.

Height 39 cm (15.5 inches)...

Fine Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Rider (206 BC - AD 8)

This fine and attractive pottery horse and rider was made over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a dark grey pottery, quite "heavily-potted", that has been "cold painted" in a base coat of creamy-white pigment with the details mostly picked out in red and black pigments although there are also traces of pink and green pigments in places...

Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Groom (206 BC - AD 8)

This pottery model of a horse with its groom was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). Both items are made from a fairly high-fired grey pottery and have been "cold painted" in white, pink, black and red pigments...

Description:
A round-shaped pottery inkstone was well preserved.
Supported by three foot which were intriguingly and characteristically in figures as crouching animal, the inkstone was mold with flat surface.
The surface was used as grinding pool for inkcake, so it was concaved in the middle.
In two-step style on the surface, the outer lower rim was designed for resting the lacquered cover which had been decayed and vanished.
Overall it was in newly-excavated condition preserved ...

Fine LARGE Chinese Neolithic Painted Pottery Jar - Machang (Liuwan type) with Oxford TL Test

This large and impressive pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago during the Machang Phase (c. 2300 - 2000 BC) of the Majiayao culture, also known as the Gansu-Yangshao culture, from present day Gansu or Qinghai province. It is "heavily-potted" and relatively highly-fired. This jar has a wide body with two sturdy loop handles on opposing sides at its waist...

Fine LARGE Chinese Han Dynasty Burnished Pottery Cocoon Jar

This wonderfully-shaped pottery jar was made during the early part of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8) or possibly as early as the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC). This type of jar is often referred to as a "cocoon jar" due to the shape of its body. This unusually large example has a particularly pleasing form.

Its function was that of a grain storage jar...

Fine Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Rider (206 BC - AD 8)

This fine and attractive pottery horse and rider was made over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a grey pottery, quite "heavily-potted", that has been "cold painted" in a base coat of creamy-white pigment with the details picked out in various coloured pigments. The horse stands alert, head facing forward, the rider sitting in the act of holding the reins to the horse...

Fine Chinese Neolithic Pottery Jar - Caiyuan Culture (c. 2600 - 2200 BC)

This rare and attractively-shaped round pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Caiyuan Culture (c. 2600 - 2200 BC) and has been excavated from the Ningxia Autonomous Region in the north of China. It has a wide body, straight neck and wide flared-mouth. The surface above the waist, as well as the inside of the mouth, has been finely-burnished and is very smooth to the touch...

Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Lady

This pottery figure was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a creamy-white pottery (often regarded as better quality and more desirable than red-pottery figures) that has been cold-painted in various coloured pigments, good traces of which still remain. She stands as though in attendance with her hands together across her tummy. Note the detail of the hairstyle and the clothing.

Height 26 cm. This figure is in fine condi...

Description: A museum piece indeed as this tripod ceramic inkstone was recovered rarely in a unique form and was in perfect condition with original cover. On the top, a water basin which was in a shape of a crouching toad was capped as a knob. By excellent incising and molding work, the toad was vividly rendered. In a firm and sturdy condition, the inkstone was glazed with characteristic grayish green and yellowish slip and was supported by three stout bears. On the inner side and at the outer b...

Rare Chinese Eastern Jin / Southern Dynasties Celadon Glazed Chicken Head Ewer

This stoneware ewer was made during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 317 - 420) or possibly the Southern Dynasties period (AD 420 - 589). Its form, body and glaze characteristics suggest it was made at the workshops in Jiangxi province. It is "heavily-potted" with two sturdy loop handles on opposing sides of the shoulder, pouring spout in the form of a chicken's head, and a decorative chicken's tail. It is coated in a...

A bronze official's seal with the Chinese characters meaning "natural" and "pure." The top of the seal has a seated rabbit with its long ears folded behind its head. The rabbit is well-formed and proportioned down to the details of the toes on its paws. Period: Western Jin Size: (Seal) 2.4 cm x 2.4 cm., Height = 2.7 cm. Condition: Very good.

Rare Chinese Northern Wei Dynasty Pack Horse (AD 386 - 534)

This rare and interesting pottery model of a pack horse, or pony, was made during the Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386 - 534). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" with a base coat of white pigment on top of which has been applied black pigment in places. Note the detail of the pack on its back that includes two water containers and a rabbit.

Height 25 cm, length 27 cm. It is in good overall conditi...

Chinese Eastern Wei - Northern Qi Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Armoured Rider with Oxford TL Test

This fine and rare pottery model of a horse & rider was made in the 6th Century during either the Eastern Wei Dynasty (AD 534 - 550) or the following Northern Qi Dynasty (AD 550 - 577). Pottery horses from this period have a distinct style different to the more common and later Tang Dynasty equivalents.

It has been made from a fine-grained grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in a c...

Chinese Eastern Wei - Northern Qi Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Rider with Oxford TL Test

This attractive pottery model of a cloaked and hooded rider was made in the 6th Century during either the Eastern Wei Dynasty (AD 534 - 550) or the following Northern Qi Dynasty (AD 550 - 577). Pottery horses from this period have a distinct style different to the more common and later Tang Dynasty equivalents.

It has been made from a fine-grained grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in a cr...

Description:

Rare stone bust from the Sui Dynasty (581-618 CE). Piece is in fine condition, with its original whitish coating preserved. The bust depicts a solemn image of a devoted pupil or perhaps a slave, with head dress. Facial features are well carved and very effective in communicating the mood of the piece.

Minor wear and abrasion caused by age, but these do not distract from the beauty of the piece. These are, if anything, exaggerated by the shadow in the phot...