Tall Chinese Han Dynasty Amber Glazed Pottery Hu Jar

This large pottery jar (or "hu") of fine form was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220). It has been coated with a greenish-amber glaze that covers the whole of the outer surface and the inside of the mouth. The slightly concave flat base remains unglazed. There are many decorative ridges and bands that surround the jar and on opposing sides at the waist are two moulded taotie ring handles...

Rare Chinese Ming Dynasty Monochrome Blue Porcelain Box

This rare porcelain box was made during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) in the mid to late 16th century. The outer surface is coated in a dark blue glaze whilst the inner surface is coated in a white glaze. To the base are thick globules of crawled blue glaze.

Diameter 8.5 cm...

Large Chinese Yuan Dynasty Cizhou Stoneware Jar

This wonderfully-shaped jar was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368), at one of the kilns in northern China where Cizhou wares were produced during the 11th - 14th centuries. It is heavily-potted with the outer surface coated in a white slip and decorated in underglaze iron-brown. The decoration comprises various bands that surround the body and a variety of floral patterns...

Rare Chinese Tang Dynasty Stoneware Jar with Cover

This "heavily-potted" stoneware jar, complete with its original cover, was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). Like most Tang jars, its form is particularly pleasing. The finely-crackled transparent pale olive-green glaze is quite "streaky" and coats around the upper three-quarters of the outer surface, as well as the cover. The lower body remains unglazed showing the white stoneware body...

Chinese Warring States Bronze Axe Head

This bronze axe head dates approximately to the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). Inside are remains of its wooden shaft. Length 16 cm (6.25 inches). Unfortunately it has been broken in two and re-stuck.

For information: this axe head is part of a modest yet very interesting private English collection of Chinese antiquities acquired during the 1990s that we recently acquired...

Large Chinese Warring States Impressed Pottery Jar (475 - 221 BC)

This large and attractive pottery jar was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). It is made from a relatively high-fired dense grey pottery. The whole of the surface of the upper body has been decorated by impressing cord into the soft clay and then incising horizontal bands as the jar was turned; a simple yet very effective method of decoration.

Height 30 cm, diameter 28 cm. Condition is very good...

Tall Chinese Warring States / Qin Dynasty Grey Pottery Jar

This large and attractively-shaped pottery jar was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC) or possibly during the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC). It is "heavily-potted" and made from a relatively high-fired dense grey pottery. It is decorated with two wide bands of repeated impressions that surround the upper and lower shoulder...

Fine & Rare Chinese Northern Wei Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Rider

This rare and attractive pottery model of a horse & rider was made during the Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386 - 534). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" in a base coat of a creamy-white pigment on top of which are yellow and black pigments. The horse stands upright with its head turned to its left. Note the detail of the rider's clothing...

Fine Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Rider

This attractive pottery model of a horse & rider was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a relatively highly-fired pottery that has been "cold painted" in various different coloured pigments. The horse stands alert with its head turned a little to its left. The riders sits erect with his hands held out as though holding the reins...

Fine Chinese Tang Dynasty Saddled Horse with Oxford TL Test

This fine-quality pottery model of a horse was made during the early part of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a relatively highly-fired pale-coloured pottery, varying from a pale grey to a pinkish-brown in colour (this colour variation is often seen with earthenware that is more highly-fired than other pieces). It has been "cold-painted" in various coloured pigments...

Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Amber Glazed Pottery Stove

This pottery model of a stove was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220). It is made from a reddish pottery and coated in a thick and attractive amber glaze. It has been made from moulded sections that have been luted together. There are three integral cooking pots with moulded decoration including fish, geometric patterns and a kneeling female figure with a pot. To the underside unglazed surface is a network of ancient root/p...

Rare Large Chinese Han Dynasty Bronze Xian (Published)

This exceptionally large and rare bronze xian (steamer) was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220) and actually comprises three separate vessels that combine to form the xian. The middle section sits within the lower section, and on top sits the upper section, the part that has the grill in its base to allow steam to enter the vessel. Each section is decorated with raised bands and a pair of taotie ring handles. The surfaces are c...

A Fine Chinese Tang Dynasty Sancai Glazed Pottery Groom with Oxford TL Test

This very fine pottery model of a foreign groom was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a highly-fired white pottery that has been coated in different coloured glazes, as well as the facial features being finished in cold-painted coloured pigments. The figure has a beard and moustache and wears a flowing cloak with distinctive head gear. His right arm is raised as though holding the reigns of...

Rare Tall Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Decorated Glazed Jar

This attractively-shaped pottery jar was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and comes from Shaanxi province in the northwest of China. It is made from a red pottery, quite heavily potted, has a wide body, narrow neck and trumpet-shaped mouth. Simple decorative incised lines surround the neck and shoulder. The outer surface and inner mouth have been coated in an amber-coloured glaze with green glaze added in places to f...

Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Burnished Black Pottery Meiping

We have recently been lucky enough to have acquired a collection of very rare examples of burnished black pottery items made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). Such items are relatively unknown and very little has been published about them. They are found in the northern provinces, particularly Gansu province in the north-west.

This vase, or bottle is of meiping form. It is particularly "heavily-potted" and stands on an int...

Fine Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Burnished Black Pottery Dragon Cup & Saucer

We have recently been lucky enough to have acquired a collection of very rare examples of burnished black pottery items made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). Such items are relatively unknown and very little has been published about them. They are found in the northern provinces, particularly Gansu province in the north-west.

This exquisite cup and saucer set has smooth burnished surfaces, very smooth to ...

Fine Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Burnished Black Pottery Round Box

We have recently been lucky enough to have acquired a collection of very rare examples of burnished black pottery items made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). Such items are relatively unknown and very little has been published about them. They are found in the northern provinces, particularly Gansu province in the north-west.

This fine-quality black pottery black has a highly polished/burnished surface making it pa...

A male front Mandarin square with a tiger, denoting the 3rd military rank. Silk tapestry (kossu, k'o-suu) with metallic threads and painted details. The animal is standing on a rock above deep water, the ground with Taoist longevity symbols. Blue silk lining. The background was probably covered by peacock feathers, rarely survived to the present days. Reference: "Ladder to the Clouds" by Jackson & Hugus Berkeley 1999, for similar badges. Condition: faded, the hind paws with thin area, missing th...