This interesting pottery vessel was made over 3,000 years ago during the Chinese Neolithic or early Bronze Age. The form is of a cooking vessel and the three wide udder-shaped legs allow it to be stood in a fire with as much heat as possible being transmitted to its contents. It is not always easy to determine exactly which culture such vessels come from as similar vessels were made by various Chinese cultures...

This tall pottery figure was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and has been excavated from Sichuan province. It is made from a reddish pottery and is highly detailed. Such figures are usually referred to as farmers, although during this period Sichuan farmers were also called upon by their masters to become soldiers when required...

This wonderful pair of ladies was made during the Sui Dynasty (AD 581 - 618). They are made from a creamy-white pottery and coated in an attractive pale yellow/straw glaze that is finely-crackled. Note the detail to the clothing, the hairstyle and especially the faces: exquisite !

These are from a long-established private English collection and come with a custom-made display stand...

This rare pottery figure was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220). It is made from a grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in a base coat of white pigment on top of which have been painted pink, red and black pigments with a good deal of the original pigment still remaining. The holes in his sleeves are where originally would have been placed articulated wooden hands, now long since rotted away and lost...

This very rare group of glazed pottery entertainers was made during the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220 - 265) or possibly the earlier Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220). The group comprises two female figures and two male figures. They are made from a reddish-brown pottery and coated in an amber coloured glaze that is slightly crackled...

This pottery model of an official or dignitary was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery and is particularly heavily-potted. It has been repaired in the past, including a poor repair at the neck. Since then the head has again been broken off the body...

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 horse 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 red pigment.

Height 29 cm (11.5 inches)...

This pottery model of a male attendant, or servant, was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). The figure stands with hands clasped together under a wide-sleeved robe. Note the presence of purpose-made holes above and below where the hands would be where a flag or banner (?) would originally have been placed diagonally, and presumably made of wood so long since rotted away and lost...

A superbly conceived design; jars of this general type have been found in excavations dating as far back as the Spring and Autumn Period (770-475 BC)...

An Unusual Chinese Han Dynasty Finial or Cover 206BC- 220AD

Ht. 6 1/4 ins. (15.8 cms) This unusual object may be the cover to a jar or some sort of finial, we have never seen anything like it before or, indeed, found any book illustrations of similar...

This very rare and unusual example of a ding tripod was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) from a fairly high-fired pale reddish-brown pottery. It is extremely "heavily-potted" and unusually tall. It is coated in a streaky green glaze, the colour of which varies due to runs and variations in its thickness...

This large and impressive pottery model was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and excavated from Sichuan province. It is a model of a kneeling female figure holding in one hand a knife, and in the other a fish that lays on a chopping board. It is made from a particularly red pottery that is relatively low-fired. A variety of figures of this general type, some small, some large, excavated from Sichuan prov...

This rare and very interesting pottery model of a milling shed was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220). The building has a doorway at the back and a gabled roof. Inside is the rice pounder and mill. It is made from a fairly high-fired red pottery. The thin pale green glaze that, due to long burial, has degraded over time and acquired a silvery iridescence, coats the roof and outer walls, whereas inside is it just the pounder...

This rare and unusual jar dates to the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC) or possibly the early part of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from high-fired grey stoneware of the type sometimes called "proto-porcelain". The glaze, a dark green ash glaze, is quite patchy and its thickness varies. The shoulder and waist are decorated with bands of lightly incised wavy parallel lines. The body is wide and it has a c...

This pottery model of a horse and equestrian was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). Although many examples of horses with riders are known from the Tang Dynasty, few are as attractive and elegant as this particular example. It is made from a creamy-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments. The female rider sits upright with her hands together in a demure posture; note the details of ...