This blue & white "Swatow" porcelain dish, or shallow bowl, was made during the Wanli Reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty. It is coated in a thick glaze and decorated in underglaze cobalt blue. The decoration features a pheasant in a garden. The inner wall is undecorated and around the flat rim there are six roundels containing floral patterns surrounded by a repeating diaper pattern...
This blue & white "Swatow" porcelain dish was made during the Wanli Reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty. It is coated in a thick crackled glaze and decorated in underglaze cobalt blue of very good colour. The decoration is the "double phoenix" pattern, two phoenixes standing facing each other, presumably male and female, surrounded by foliage and peony blossoms...
This blue & white "Swatow" porcelain dish was made during the Wanli Reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty. It is coated in a thick crackled glaze and decorated in underglaze cobalt blue that, unusually, due to firing conditions, has fired to a colour more like black than blue...
This "hare's fur" bowl still in its kiln saggar was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279) and has been excavated from a kiln site in Fujian province. Much of the glaze of the bowl is a deep glossy black with the "hare's fur" effect mostly around the rim...
This rare pear-shaped vase or bottle was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) by one of the kilns at Yuxi county in Yunnan province, one of the first places in the world where blue & white ware was produced. It is "heavily-potted" and decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with floral and leaf designs. It is coated with a clear glaze that falls short of the heavy irregularly cut foot...
This wide-bodied porcelain ewer was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279). It is particularly "heavily-potted" for its type. It has a "kinked" spout, a wide loop handle and two decorative loops on opposite sides joined at the shoulder and neck. It is coated in a fairly thick greenish blue glaze that is crackled in places. The base remains unglazed revealing the creamy-white body.
Height 22.5 cm. Weight 1.325 kg...
This blue and white porcelain bowl with flared rim was made during the late 15th - early 16th century (Hongzhi reign 1488 – 1505). The outer wall is decorated in underglaze blue with a honeycomb pattern. The central decoration is loosely based on a vajra (Buddhist sceptre) with various other decorations around the inner wall. It is coated in a finely-crackled glaze.
Diameter 14.5 cm...
This sturdy ridge tile in the form of a seated lion-dog dates to the latter part of the Ming Dynasty (c. 1600 - 1644). It is coated in a thick and finely-crackled attractive turquoise glaze. The curved underneath of the tile remains unglazed and has the impressions of a finely-woven cloth on which it must have been placed during manufacture.
Height 22 cm...
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 quite "heavily-potted" and is fairly highly-fired. The surface colour of the pottery varies in places, a result of uneven conditions during firing...
This fine pottery head was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It has been "cold painted" in a base coat of white pigment on top of which have been painted pink, red and black pigments to pick out the facial details.
Height 10.5 cm...
This pottery model of an official or dignitary was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery and is particularly heavily-potted. It has been repaired in the past, including a poor repair at the neck. Since then the head has again been broken off the body.
This is quite a tall figure with a height of 32 cm and is being sold as a restoration project (some sellers would ask more for the head on its ...
This pottery jar of "hu" form was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220) and comes from Shaanxi province in the northwest of China. It is made from a relatively highly-fired reddish pottery and has simple incised decorative bands surrounding the jar at its shoulder. The whole surface, including the base and inner mouth, is coated in an amber-coloured glaze that has a "bubbled" surface. The flat base has marks where ...
This rare small jar was made during the 13th / 14th century at the Longquan kilns, Zhejiang province. It is coated in a thick celadon glaze and has a particularly attractive and crisp moulded floral pattern including lotus blossoms. There are two small loop handles at the shoulder. The unglazed base is slightly concave.
Diameter 6.5 cm (2.5 inches). No repair or restoration; a lovely example in ...
This "heavily-potted" small jar was made during the 13th / 14th century at the Longquan kilns, Zhejiang province. It has been made in two moulded sections, upper and lower, that were luted together prior to glazing. The upper part is decorated with a four-clawed dragon and the lower part with cloud and wave patterns. The surface is coated in a thick celadon glaze save for the slightly concave flat base.
Diameter 8.5 cm ...
This fine small porcelain jar was made during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty, or possibly a little earlier. It is finely decorated in underglaze blue with a pattern featuring blossoming branches, the pattern having a dark outline.
Height 9 cm. No repair or restoration; fine condition.
The collection number on the paper label to the base is that of the late Grahame Clarke, master potter, who originally bought this...
This fine and attractive deep porcelain bowl was made in the Southern Song Dynasty (AD 1127 - 1279). The inner surface is decorated with an unusual moulded floral pattern whilst the underside is decorated with a repeating carved leaf pattern. It is unusual for both upper and lower surfaces of a qingbai bowl to be decorated. It is coated in a delicate and finely-crackled pale green qingbai glaze, save for...
This domestic bronze cooking vessel was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8) or possibly earlier. It has two handles on opposing sides of the shoulder. It is quite "heavily-cast" and the casting lines are quite pronounced, especially across the flat base. There is some corrosion, mostly to the base where it comprises mostly malachite (green) and azurite (blue). There are also black carbon deposits on the surface in places,...
This attractive large porcelain dish was made during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty. It is of the type known as "Swatow" or "Zhangzhou" ware. It is coated in a thick glaze, the decoration provided on top with green, turquoise and red coloured enamels. The pattern features in the centre a phoenix standing in a garden. Surrounding this are panels containing lotus and other flowers surrounded by a ...
This attractive large porcelain dish was made during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty. It is of the type known as "Swatow" or "Zhangzhou" ware. It is coated in a thick glaze, the bold underglaze blue decoration of good colour featuring in the centre, a standing phoenix, surrounded by various floral patterns and flower blossoms. The outer wall is decorated with simple thin blue lines. The sand/gri...
This large and impressive pottery jar dates to the Siwa culture (c. 1350 BC), one of the later Chinese Neolithic cultures overlapping the Bronze Age, and has been excavated from Gansu or Qinghai province in the north-west of China. It is of a very attractive shape: from its fairly small flat base, the body spreads out to a wide waist and then tapers in again to a neck of about the same width as the base before flaring out to fo...
This pottery figure was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It takes a human form, other than the head which is of the zodiac animal represented, in this case the goat. The figure stands upright with hands clasped together against its chest under a flowing robe. It is made from a reddish pottery that has been cold-painted in a base coat of white on top of which are traces of orange and black pigments.
Height 26 cm (10.5 i...
This attractive pottery model of a horse was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" in white and reddish-brown pigments. This horse is well-modelled and stands upright and alert with its head turned slightly to its left.
Height 21.5 cm (8.5 inches). A nice example in good condition with any possible repair having been performed to a professional standard. ...
A rare opportunity to acquire a Northern Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1127) kiln saggar still containing its Qingbai porcelain bowl, excavated from a kiln site in the Jingdezhen area of Jiangxi province. This is one of a variety of different Qingbai porcelain wares in saggars, mostly bowls and dishes of varying sizes and patterns, that we were very lucky to be able to acquire some time ago and now offer for sale.
Northern ...
This fine pottery model of a horse was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a fairly high-fired fine-grained grey pottery and has been "cold painted" in a pale pink pigment with details on top in red and black pigments. The horse stands upright and alert.
Height 27.5 cm. It is in fine condition with only faint traces of repair to a couple of the vulnerable legs (as should, of course, re...
This interesting pottery model of a groom was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a fairly high-fired grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in white, red, pink and black pigments. The figure wears a long garment and a head covering. He stands with his left hand outstretched as if holding the reigns of a horse (see our last image for an illustration of this). There are purp...
This unusual pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago during the Machang Phase (c. 2300 - 2000 BC), or possibly the earlier Banshan Phase (c.2600 - 2300 BC) of the Majiayao culture, also known as the Gansu-Yangshao culture, from present day Gansu or Qinghai province. It is quite thinly-potted and highly-fired, made from a pale yellowish-brown pottery. Joining the shoulder of the wide body to the flared mouth edge are two loop hand...
This attractive 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 a particularly fine example of its type, quite thinly-potted and highly-fired, made from a pale yellowish-brown pottery, the colour of which varies in places due to uneven conditions during firing. The surface is very smooth ...
This large 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 a well-made jar of fine form and good proportions. At the waist of its wide body are two sturdy loop handles. At the top of its wide body is quite a narrow neck with a flared mouth.
It is quite highly-fired ...
This interesting pottery jar was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279), or possibly the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) and has been been excavated from a Buddhist site in Yunnan province. It is made from a relatively highly-fired grey pottery. The reddish-brown surface colour is from the iron-rich burial soil.
The jar has a flat base with marks left showing it was removed from the potter's wheel by a piece of string or wire....
This interesting pottery jar was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279), or possibly the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) and has been been excavated from a Buddhist site in Yunnan province. It is made from a fairly high-fired pale grey pottery, the yellowish-brown surface colour being due to the iron-rich Yunnan soil.
Strips of clay have been applied to the outer wall to form two bands each of six lotus l...
This tall and impressive pottery figure was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a dense grey pottery, the head made separately to the body. Both head and body have been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments, traces of which still remain. The figure represents a female attendant and she wears long flowing robes. The head has two small vertical slots where originally would have been so...
This fine pair of tall and impressive porcelain jars was made in the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279), more specifically around the 11th - 12th century. This type of tall qingbai-glazed porcelain jar was made throughout the 11th to 14th centuries, although the later versions tend to be more "coarse", more thinly-potted and made from multiple moulded sections luted together. These examples are quite "heavily-potted" and ma...
This fine pair of tall and impressive porcelain jars was made in the 13th - 14th century, toward the end of the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279) or the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). Interestingly they have been made in several sections that have been luted together. They are coated in a finely-crackled greenish-blue qingbai glaze of very good colour.
This is a true matching pair. Various decorations have been moulde...
This tall and impressive porcelain jar was made in the 13th - 14th century, toward the end of the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279) or the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). Interestingly it has been made in several sections that have been luted together. It is coated in a finely-crackled greenish qingbai glaze (the colour on the cover is a little more blue than the jar). Various decorations have been moulded and applied to the surface. The...
This very rare, possibly unique, pottery jar was made between the 10th and 13th centuries, during the Five Dynasties period (AD 906 - 960), Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279) or possibly the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) and has been excavated from a Buddhist site in Yunnan province.
It is one of the most unusual Yunnan jars that we have seen. The design represents either lotus leaves or a lotus blossom. It is...
This rare and unusual painted pottery figure was made during the Northern Qi Dynasty (AD 550 - 577). It is made from a relatively highly-fired grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments, traces of which still remain. Note the details of the clothing, the headgear, both tied with a bow, and the facial features. Where the hands are clasped together under the cloak is a purpose-made hole where original...
This fine tall pottery figure was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220). A whole variety of pottery figures of varying sizes of this general type comprising farmers, musicians, domestic servants etc. are known and have been excavated from Sichuan province. This is a large example and is made from a pale yellowish-grey pottery, with the head made separately that fits into the hollow ...
Surely among the rarest and most desirable 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 remain...
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. The rider sits upright within a small saddle ...
This fine porcelain bowl was made in the Southern Song Dynasty (AD1127 - 1279) around the 13th - 14th Century. The inner surface is decorated with a deep and crisp moulded pattern featuring lotus blossoms above which is a key fret band. Save for the unglazed rim, it is coated in a very finely-crackled qingbai glaze of a pale yellowish-green colour.
Diameter 15.5 cm (6 inches). It is a lovely example in...
This extremely rare (unique?) porcelain wine cup was made during the 12th - 14th Century (Song - Yuan Dynasty). The inner surface is coated in a finely-crackled pale olive-green celadon or qingbai type of glaze. But its most interesting feature is the unglazed textured outer wall, decorated with cord or fabric impressions. There is a firing bubble to the inner surface.
Height 3.8 cm. It is in fine conditi...
This "heavily-potted" porcelain bowl was made in the 13th - 14th century during the Yuan (AD 1279 - 1368) or early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), most likely at the Longquan kilns in Zhejiang province. The upper outer wall is decorated with an incised wave pattern. It is coated in a crackled celadon glaze of good colour. The glaze, that has a very pleasant "silky-smooth" feel to it, stops short of the foot, rev...
This attractively-shaped monochrome glazed porcelain bowl with flared rim was made during the 13th / 14th Century (Late Song - Yuan Dynasty). It is coated in a glossy finely-crackled transparent pale greenish-blue qingbai glaze save for the inner surface of the small foot that remains unglazed.
Diameter 13.5 cm (5.25 inches). It is in fine condition and is free from any restoration or repair.
From a group of Song to Ming...
This attractive pear-shaped vase was made during the Southern Song Dynasty (AD 1127 - 1279), most likely at one of the kilns in Fujian province. Interestingly it is made in several sections that have been luted together. The mid section is decorated with a scrolling lotus blossom pattern, below which is a repeating lotus leaf pattern. It is coated in a finely-crackled greenish-blue qingbai glaze that stops short of its foot. The in...
This attractive pear-shaped vase was made during the Southern Song Dynasty (AD 1127 - 1279), most likely at one of the kilns in Fujian province. Interestingly it is made in several sections that have been luted together. The mid section is decorated with a scrolling floral pattern. The outer body is coated in a particularly glossy and finely-crackled pale green transparent qingbai glaze. The glaze also extends just into the inner m...
This very rare and fascinating pottery jar was made around the 13th - 14th century during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279) or possibly the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) and has been excavated from a Buddhist site in Yunnan province, at the time a particularly isolated part of China. It is made from a relatively highly-fired grey pottery the surface colour varying in places from pale to dark grey although much of t...
This oversized vessel, in the form of a "cocoon jar" was made during the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC) or possibly a little earlier during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC), but even then by the Qin state. It is made from a fairly high-fired fine-grained grey pottery. The whole of the outer surface of the body is decorated with repeated cord or woven impressions, particularly crisp in places, ...
This impressive fine pair of painted pottery jars, representing granaries, was made over two thousand years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). They are made from a fairly high-fired grey pottery. They have cylindrical bodies, each decorated with three surrounding bands of raised ridges, the tops of each jar representing tiled roofs. Each jar stands on three feet moulded into the form of a bear. Near th...
This small and attractive pottery model of a camel was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a reddish-brown pottery that has been cold-painted in a base coat of white with yellow-ochre and reddish-brown pigments on top. The camel stands upright with its head slightly raised.
Height 20 cm. It is in very good condition.
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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...
This large and impressive pottery jar was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery and has a smooth surface with bands of lightly incised/burnished lines surrounding the shoulder and the upper body. Around its middle are two bands of impressed decoration. Unusually, the whole of the outer surface has been cold painted with a thick white pigment that...
This superb and impressive pottery jar (hu) was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220). It is made from a fairly high-fired reddish pottery and coated in a particularly attractive streaky green and finely-crackled glaze, the colour of which varies according to its thickness. Interestingly, the drips of glaze to the mouth rim and the pooling of glaze to the flat base show that this jar was fired upsid...
This rare and finely-detailed model of a horse and rider was made during the Sui Dynasty. The horse stands upright with head straight ahead but slightly lowered. The dignitary sits upright upon the horse with his hands raised and wears elaborate robes and headgear. It is made from a relatively highly-fired buff-coloured pottery. It is coated in a finely-crackled straw-coloured glaze tha...
This large and impressive pottery jar was made around the 13th / 14th century, during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279) or the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). Until recent years, this type of jar was almost unknown in the west with some people initially attributing them to the Liao Dynasty (same general period but in the north of China). These jars are now known to have originated from Yunnan province in the south-...
This rare and unusual jar was made some 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Neolithic Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC), in the north of China, what is now eastern Gansu province. It is made from a gritty reddish pottery. The outer surface has the impressions made by the shaping tool and there are horizontal notched strips of clay applied to the lower body. What makes this jar so rare and unusual, however, are the four loop handles and the...
Although many different Han Dynasty granary jars are known, this example is quite rare. It was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) from a relatively high-fired red pottery, quite "heavily-potted", that has been glazed in two different colours. Mostly it is coated in an attractive amber coloured glaze. The upper band of a different colour was originally coated in a green glaze that has, as a result of very long burial in da...
A superbly conceived design; jars of this general type have been found in excavations dating as far back as the Spring and Autumn Period (770-475 BC). Although perhaps not obviously Chinese in design, this type of vessel is one of the most iconic forms of Han Dynasty pottery and is thought by some archaeologists to be anthropomorphic, with the shape and "swirling" design of the main body based on the female human form.
This particular example was mad...