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...
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)...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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 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 "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 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 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...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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...
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 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. ...
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 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...