Fine Thai Ban Chiang Incised Neolithic Pottery Jar (Ex. Christie's)

This pottery jar of rare form dates to the Ban Chiang period (c. 1500 BC - AD 300). It is heavily-potted with a rounded lower body and a wide flared mouth. The body has been decorated with incised geometric patterns. The surface colour of the pottery varies from a reddish-brown to black due to uneven conditions during firing.

Diameter at mouth 12.75 cm, height 9.5 cm...

Rare Chinese Northern Song / Jin Dynasty Twin-Handled Jar

This rare and unusual jar was made at one of the northern kilns during the 11th - 13th century. It is coated both inside and out in a thick glaze that varies in colour from chocolate-brown to black. The glaze fall short of the base on both the inner and outer surfaces. The outer body is decorated with a fluted wall and lightly incised horizontal lines that surround the jar at its shoulder...

Rare Vietnamese 14th Century Green Glazed Stoneware Dish

This rare and interesting shallow bowl / dish was made during the 14th century. It has a raised "lotus-petal" rim and is coated in an apple-green glaze, save for a broad unglazed stacking ring around its centre. The glaze is somewhat uneven, with runs in places, its colour varying according to its thickness. The glaze is lightly crackled.

Diameter 17 cm (6.75 inches)...

Rare Vietnamese 14th Century Apple-Green Glazed Stoneware Bowl

This rare stoneware bowl was made during the 14th century. It is coated in an apple-green glaze. Although not very clear, round the lower inner surface there appears to be a floral (?) pattern using a glaze-resisting method. There is an unglazed stacking band around the centre, the centre appearing the be coated in a thin yellowish wash...

Rare Vietnamese 13th / 14th Century Green Glazed Ribbed Bowl

This rare high-fired porcelaneous bowl was made during the 13th / 14th century. The outer wall is decorated with a carved ribbed pattern and it is coated in a green glaze, the colour of which varies according to its thickness - there are lines of crackle in the glaze in places. The underside base is flat with a slightly recessed centre...

Chinese Kangxi Blue & White Porcelain Dish (Kraak)

This fine dish was made around 1680 at the famous Jingdezhen kilns, during the Kangxi reign (1662 - 1722) of the Qing Dynasty. It is decorated in underglaze blue of quite an intense colour. The decoration to the centre panel features a grasshopper in a garden surrounded by flower blossoms. Surrounding this are more panels variously containing geometric, flowers and precious objects...

Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Kraak Porcelain Dish (Deer & Birds)

This attractive porcelain dish was made during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty. It has a foliate rim and has been very attractively decorated in underglaze blue of very good colour featuring a variation of the "two deer in a garden" pattern. Although this pattern is well-known, in addition, around the rim, are various leaf & foliage patterns as well as three birds, a rare feature on such dishes...

Rare Large Chinese Western Han Dynasty Bronze Cauldron / Jar

This domestic bronze cooking vessel was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8) or possibly earlier. The bottom half is semi-spherical, designed to sit in a fire; indeed there are still remains of carbon deposits to the base. It has two handles on opposing sides at the shoulder. Across the base and up the sides is the mould casting line...

Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Attendant Figure

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...

Fine Tall Chinese Western Han Dynasty Pottery Attendant Figure

This pottery figure of a male servant or attendant was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a dark grey pottery that has been relatively highly-fired...

Fine Large Chinese Western Jin Dynasty Warrior with Oxford TL Test (AD 265 - 316)

This impressive and very rare pottery model of a warrior was made during the Western Jin Dynasty (AD 265 - 316). It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a fine-grained grey pottery that is relatively highly-fired, having an almost metallic ring to it when tapped. The surface has been "cold painted" in a base coat of white pigment. The facial features, head and hair have been painted in a black pigment on to...

Fine Large Chinese Western Jin Dynasty Armoured Warrior (AD 265 - 316)

This impressive and very rare pottery model of a warrior was made during the Western Jin Dynasty (AD 265 - 316). It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a fine-grained grey pottery that is relatively highly-fired, having an almost metallic ring to it when tapped.

He is wearing an armoured jacket, belted at the waist and an elaborate helmet whilst standing legs apart to steady himself, in the act of throwing a spe...

Rare Chinese Early Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Figure (AD 618 - 906)

This rare and interesting pottery figure was made during the early part of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a grey pottery that is solid (as opposed to being hollow as are the majority of Tang figures) and relatively highly-fired. It has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments. The figure represents a soldier, or possibly a guard, who is standing to attention with his left hand held out. In this ha...

Tall Chinese Ming Dynasty Stoneware Roof Tile Figure

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). There are minor losses to the extremities, as should reasonably be expected for such an item, but ...

Fine Large Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Sichuan Pottery Musician / Entertainer

This pottery model of a musician was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and excavated from Sichuan province. It is made from a reddish pottery and quite "heavily-potted". A variety of figures of this general type are well documented. They are often musicians and entertainers, and were made in a variety of sizes, the smallest being around 15cm in height. This particularly example is much larger with a...

Chinese Qing dynasty Shiwan stoneware bombe form tripod censer with two raised loop handles on the rim covered overall with an iridescent monochrome flambe brown glaze imitating bronze. The glaze drips over the rim into the unglazed interior. Custom wood stand. Late 19th to early 20th century. 8 3/4" diameter x 5 3/4" high (to top of handle). Very good overall condition. The censer sits at a slight angle indicating the placement of one tripod leg might be slightly off. From the private col...

Large Chinese Yuan Dynasty Blue & White Jar with Cover - Oxford TL Test

This large and rare early underglazed jar, complete with cover, was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) at one of the kilns at Yuxi in Yunnan province. Although classed as "blue & white" ware, the colour of the underglaze cobalt blue does vary in places and the clear glaze is distinctly greenish in colour. Already a very rare type of jar, the "Three Friends of Winter" pattern around the shoulder makes it even r...

Ancient Chinese Buddhist Stone Prayer Tablet - Song / Yuan Dynasty

This stone panel, sometimes described as a "prayer tablet", was excavated from a Buddhist site in Yunnan province in the South-West of China and dates to the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279), Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) or possibly the early Ming Dynasty. It is one of several that we bought nearly twenty years ago to compliment our collection of Yunnan Buddhist pottery, that have since been in storage and not previously offered...