This pottery "cocoon" jar was made some 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). The shape, named after its similarity to the silkworm cocoon, evolved during the late Warring States period (475 - 221 BC) and then generally died out by the middle of the Western Han. It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery and has been decorated by "cold painting" coloured pigments in a design featuring cloud patterns within vertical bands, as well as additional bands of colour around the neck and mouth.

There is often a question of just how such cocoon jars were made. The fortuitous break of the end section of this jar shows us how, or at least how this particular example was made: the round body was made in two sections. Then the end of one section had the end cut off enabling the potter to put his hand inside in order to lute the two sections together. The neck and base were then added. Finally the cut-away part was luted back to the end of the body, the jar fired and then, finally, "cold painted". However, on this jar it seems the luting of the cut-away section was very poor as it has come away, but without leaving any obvious sign of a break at the join.

The broken end section could easily be re-stuck but we have left it as is as we think this jar is more interesting as it is.

Height 23 cm, the length 28 cm. There is an old chip to the footrim, and a fine hairline crack at the bottom of the hole in the end of the body. No repair or restoration.

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