This impressive pottery tile was made during the Jin Dynasty (AD 1115 - 1234). It is made from a relatively high-fired grey pottery that has been cold-painted in various coloured pigments, traces of which still remain.
Theatre, the arts, music, performances were a very popular part of life during this period in Shanxi province, from where this tile has been excavated...
This tall cylindrical pottery jar in the form of a granary (grain store) was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a relatively highly-fired grey pottery (having a distinct ring to it when tapped) that has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments, exceptionally good traces of which still remain. The painted decoration comprises elaborate scrolling cloud and geometric patterns...
This high-fired sturdy dish with eight accompanying cups was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). The finely-crackled and thin pale straw-coloured glaze was used sparingly, covering only the inner and outer edges of the dish, as well as the inner and upper outer surfaces of the cups. The glaze is so thin that in places on both the dish and the cups it has degraded and flaked from the surface...
This rare and unusual stoneware jar, complete with its original elaborate cover, was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279). Both cover and jar have architectural elements; they represent a granary with a tiled roof...
This "hare's fur" bowl and kiln saggar were made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279) and have been excavated from a kiln site in Fujian province. Presumably the temperature in the kiln during firing became too high, as the bowl is slightly misshapen and has become fused to the wall of the saggar by its glaze.
Diameter of saggar 14.5 cm, diameter of bowl 10 cm...
This impressive architectural ridge tile figure was made during the latter part of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), most likely in Shanxi province. It depicts an official figure or guardian / deity figure standing on top of swirling clouds. It is coated in thick green, turquoise, black and straw-coloured glazes.
Height 38 cm (15 inches)...
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...
This fine-quality porcelain dish was made during the 18th century, most likely during the Qianlong reign (1736 - 1795). It has a particularly attractive underglaze blue pattern featuring a pagoda upon a hill overlooking a river on which sail four boats, together with hills, mountains, rocks, trees and flower blossoms. The wide border is decorated with an elaborate floral and geometric pattern...
This stoneware dish is an andon-zara (or abura-zara), an oil lamp dish. It was made in the early 19th (or possibly late 18th) century, during the Edo period (1615 - 1868). It is heavily-potted and has a delightful slight warp to it. It is coated in a crackled glaze and decorated in underglaze iron-brown, the pattern featuring a stylised flower, two interlocking circles above what may be a fence. To the top right is an area of green glaze...
This fine and rare pottery tile dates to the Jin Dynasty (AD 1115 - 1234). It is made from a dense fine-grained grey pottery. It features a carved figure in relief, the figure holding a staff in its right hand and, possibly, wiping away tears with the left hand. Theatre, opera and music were immensely popular during the Jin Dynasty and over the years various pottery tiles have been excavated from Shanxi province depicting a whole...