A Pair of Chinese Sui Dynasty Glazed Pottery Ladies with Oxford TL Test

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...

Large Chinese Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) high-fired gray-black pottery bottle-form vase with geometric incised designs of unusually fine form. 11 1/2"H. Very good overall condition with minor wear. One thin old chip to the foot.

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...

Large Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Figure (horse rider)

This unusual pottery figure was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8) and would once have sat on the back of a large horse. It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a reddish-brown pottery. It has been "cold painted" in a base coat of creamy-white on top of which have been applied black, red and pink pigments...

Tall Chinese Han Dynasty Glazed Pottery Hu Jar

This attractive pottery jar (or hu) was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220). Its form is probably the most well-known of Han Dynasty pottery and every museum collection of Chinese ancient pottery will have an example. It is "heavily-potted" and made from a reddish pottery. The body and neck are decorated with bands of grooves that encircle the body. On opposing sides at the waist are moulded taotie mask ring handles...

Rare Chinese Northern Wei Dynasty Pack Horse (AD 386 - 534)

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...

Chinese Western Han Dynasty Incised & Burnished Pottery Cocoon Jar

This wonderfully-shaped pottery jar was made during the early part of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8), or possibly the preceding Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC). This type of jar is usually referred to as a "cocoon jar" due to the shape of its body. Its original function was that of a grain storage jar. This particular example is "heavily-potted" and has a wide foot, neck and mouth compared to the size of its body...

Large Chinese Neolithic Machang Phase Painted Pottery Jar (c. 2300 - 2000 BC)

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. The decorative pattern, applied on top of the smooth burnished surface with a fired-on mineral-based pigment, features four roundels containing geometric patterns...

Large Chinese Early Tang Dynasty Pottery Horse with Oxford TL Test

This impressive pottery horse was made during the early part of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a grey pottery and is quite "heavily-potted". The horse stands upright with its head and neck turned very slightly to its left.

Height 39 cm (15.5 inches)...

Fine & Rare Chinese Western Zhou Dynasty Pottery Jar

This very rare jar was made during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 - 771 BC). It is made from a hard high-fired pale pottery. It has a wide body with a slightly rounded base, quite a large neck that splays outwards and two wide loop handles joined at the shoulder and just below the rim edge...

Description: A bronze seal of Han dynasty with inscription of Zhen-Chen was uniquely molded as a crouching bear as the knob. With beautiful blue-green verdigris and red tan underneath, this bronze piece was used by a middle ranking official ( In Han dynasty the knob figures of bronze seals were all categorized by official rankings, for example, the chimera figure was for king's only). The motif - a bear, was common seen in Han's picturesque relics but was rarely seen in bronze seal pieces...

Rare Chinese Han Dynasty Burnished Pottery Bowl

This attractively-shaped bowl of rare form was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220). It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery and has a small foot and flared rim. The surface has been burnished smooth and its colour varies from pale to dark grey, a result of uneven conditions in the kiln during firing.

Diameter 15 cm...

Very Rare Chinese Han Dynasty "Baby" Pottery Cocoon Jar

This small pottery jar was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). This type of jar is known as a "cocoon jar" due to the shape of its body. It is "heavily-potted" and decorated with eight bands of triple-incised lines vertically surrounding the body as well as raised horizontal bands around its neck. It has a smooth burnished surface.

Although many Han Dynasty "cocoon jars" of varying sizes are known, examples of this...

Chinese Song dynasty chrysanthemum form bowl with moulded radial grooves emanating from a circular center. The bowl is covered overall with an unusual glaze (possibly qingbai or celadon with significant burial adhesions) that stops well above the unglazed knife cut low foot. 4” diameter x 1 ½” high. Very good overall condition. The tiny areas at the rim where the glaze does not cover the body could be from the original production. This piece is from the collection of an American diplom...

Rare Chinese Western Zhou Dynasty Bronze Chariot Bell

This rare and interesting bronze bell was made during the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 1100 - 771 BC). It would have originally been fitted to a horse-drawn chariot, ringing constantly as the chariot went along. It still has its bronze ball inside the bell section so shaking it will make the same sound that was heard some 3,000 years ago! The surface has corroded due to long burial and there are extensive malachite deposits.

Height 13 cm ...

Description:

Rare stone bust from the Sui Dynasty (581-618 CE). Piece is in fine condition, with its original whitish coating preserved. The bust depicts a solemn image of a devoted pupil or perhaps a slave, with head dress. Facial features are well carved and very effective in communicating the mood of the piece.

Minor wear and abrasion caused by age, but these do not distract from the beauty of the piece. These are, if anything, exaggerated by the shadow in the phot...

A bronze official's seal with the Chinese characters meaning "natural" and "pure." The top of the seal has a seated rabbit with its long ears folded behind its head. The rabbit is well-formed and proportioned down to the details of the toes on its paws. Period: Western Jin Size: (Seal) 2.4 cm x 2.4 cm., Height = 2.7 cm. Condition: Very good.

Large Chinese Neolithic Machang Painted Pottery Jar (c. 2300 - 2000 BC)

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 quite "heavily-potted" and made from a pale yellowish-brown pottery, the colour of which varies in places due to uneven conditions in the Neolithic kiln. It is a well-made jar of fine form and good proportion...