Catalog (315)

This attractive small covered jar was made during the 13th / 14th Century (Song / Yuan Dynasty). This jar is a little more "heavily-potted" that other similar examples. It is coated inside and out in a pale greenish Qingbai glaze. The cover has a carved pattern to give it the appearance of a tiled roof; this jar represents a granary. Part of the edge of the cover has escaped the glaze and the unglazed part has fired to a reddi...

This attractive small covered jar was made during the 13th / 14th Century (Song / Yuan Dynasty). It is coated inside and out in a pale Qingbai type of glaze that is very finely-crackled. The colour of the glaze varies a little, appearing slightly paler to the cover and inner surface of the jar. The cover has a carved pattern to give it the appearance of a tiled roof; this jar represents a granary.

Height 9 cm. It is in g...

This rare pottery jar was made around 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Neolithic Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC), from what is now eastern Gansu province, China. They produced a variety of pottery vessels including cord-impressed pottery of many shapes and sizes as well as higher-fired jars such as this. This is quite an unusual shape with its wide body and two small loop handles on opposing sides of its ...

This attractively-shaped pottery jar was made around 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Neolithic Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC), from what is now eastern Gansu province, China. It is very thinly-potted and quite highly-fired, having an almost "metallic" ring to it when tapped. There are two "strap" handles joined at the waist and mouth edge. Much of the upper surface is coated with a thin layer of "calcified" s...

This iron axe head or chisel dates to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). Surviving iron objects of this age are very rare. This example does of course have rust and corrosion, and a small chip to the edge of the open end. It is free from restoration or repair. Length 15.5 cm (6 inches).  Please note that this object has not been treated in any way and should be handled carefully.

This is one of two almost ide...

This iron axe head or chisel dates to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). Surviving iron objects of this age are very rare. This example does of course have rust and corrosion, there is a small part missing at the open end together with some cracks, but it is free from restoration or repair. Length 15.5 cm (6 inches). Please note that this object has not been treated in any way and should be handled carefully - a s...

This small pottery model of a recumbent horse was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" in a white pigment. Note the detail of the horse's mane and its legs tucked under its body. Length 14 cm. A chip to its front left knee. No obvious sign of any repair.

Our last images above show other Tang Dynasty horses we are selling separately.

*** TO ORDER THIS ITEM P...

This small pottery model of a recumbent horse was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" in a white pigment. Note the detail of the horse's mane and its legs tucked under its body. Length 14 cm. No obvious sign of any repair - good condition.

Our last images above show other Tang Dynasty horses we are selling separately.

*** TO ORDER THIS ITEM PLEASE EMAIL US Q...

This saucer-dish was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279). Its inner surface and outer wall are coated in a very finely-crackled pale qingbai glaze that has just a hint of green. The inner surface is decorated with what appears to be an impressed floral decoration although the impression is quite faint. The rim remains purposely unglazed as does the flat concave base. Interestingly around the outer wall can be seen...

This attractive small porcelain jar was made in the 12th - 14th century during the Song (AD 960 - 1279) or the Yuan Dynasty (1279 - 1368). It is quite "heavily-potted" and coated in a thick pale olive-green glaze. The body, when soft, was indented with five wide vertical impressions to give it a lobed appearance. The foot remains unglazed revealing the pale grey body. There is a small kiln scar to the body.

Height 6.5 cm...

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 pale grey pottery. Decoration is fairly simple with strips of clay applied to the upper body to form five lotus leaf panels.

Height 24.75 cm (9.75 inches). Although it has not been properly cleaned since exc...

This interesting and attractive pottery tile was made during the Jin Dynasty (AD 1115 - 1234) and most likely comes from Shanxi province. The tile is made from quite a high-fired grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments. This tile depicts a scene from one of the twenty-four paragons of filial piety. Filial piety was, and still is, an important part of Chinese culture. We believe his tile depi...

This 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. They produced a variety of pottery vessels including cord-impressed pottery of many shapes and sizes. This particular example is made from a coarse gritty clay and has a wide flaring mouth. The surface colour varies and in places are what appear to be carbon deposits suggest...

Archaic Chinese Bronzes by Christian Deydier

This superbly produced book covers the first known Chinese bronzes through to and including those produced by the Shang Dynasty. It is very well researched and packed full of interesting background information as well as being extensively illustrated. Included are the relatively recent excavations from the Sichuan Culture site at Sanxingdui. An invaluable book for those interested not only in anc...

This sturdy storage jar dates to the 12th - 14th centuries. It is quite "heavily-potted" and has a rolled rim with four loo-handles speared equidistant around the shoulder. The streaky yellowish-brown glaze falls short of the unglazed base. Most likely it was made for export to south-east Asia.

Height 15.5 cm. There is an old crack to the mouth that has been stabilised; otherwise it is in good condition.

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This saucer-dish was made in the 13th - 14th century during the Yuan (AD 1279 - 1368) or early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). It is "heavily-potted" and coated in a thick lightly-crackled celadon glaze save for the foot that has fired to a deep reddish-brown. The glaze has a very pleasant "silky-smooth" feel to it. This high-fired type of ware is variously described as stoneware or porcelain and it certainly has quite a high-pitched sound when tap...

This is one of a group of moulded pottery tablets that we bought about twenty years ago. They are made from a relatively high-fired pottery and have a surprising amount of detail. They were made as amulets and votive offerings and were reported to have been excavated from the foundations of an ancient Buddhist temple, where originally many would have been placed to ensure the success of the temple. We find it quite difficult to date thes...

A pottery model of a folding wooden chair made during the 16th century (c.1500 - 1600). Made from a hard creamy-white pottery and coated in green and greenish-yellow glazes that have, in places, acquired a silvery iridescence, a result of very long exposure to moisture. There are also traces of red pigment in places.

Height 15 cm. No restoration or repair. Fine condition.

The final image shows a similar chair that is being sold...