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...
This stoneware dish is an andon-zara (or abura-zara), an oil lamp dish. It was made in the early 19th (or possibly late 18th) century, during the Edo period (1615 - 1868). It is particularly heavily-potted and has a flat, slightly concave base. It is coated in a crackled glaze and decorated in underglaze iron-brown, the pattern featuring three stylised flowers above what may be a fence. To the top right is an area of green glaze...
This stoneware dish is an andon-zara (or abura-zara), an oil lamp dish. It was made in the early 19th (or possibly late 18th) century, during the Edo period (1615 - 1868). It is heavily-potted and has a delightful slight warp to it. It is coated in a crackled glaze and decorated in underglaze iron-brown, the pattern featuring a stylised flower, two interlocking circles above what may be a fence. To the top right is an area of green glaze...
The traveling case's exterior is constructed of leather, and the interior sports 5 compartments packed with a total of 62 medicine bottles. Specifically, there are 32 narrow medicine vials with metal screw-on caps, plus 17 medium-size vials. There are six miscellaneous vials, 5 of which are corked, and one that houses a later-date, glass syringe...
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)...
This "hare's fur" bowl and kiln saggar were made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279) and have been excavated from a kiln site in Fujian province. Presumably the temperature in the kiln during firing became too high, as the bowl is slightly misshapen and has become fused to the wall of the saggar by its glaze.
Diameter of saggar 14.5 cm, diameter of bowl 10 cm...
This pottery oil lamp was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220)...
The company's logo featured a very young, African-American girl in a red dress, eating peanut butter out of the tin pail while her cloth doll rested on her lap. The words: "A.C. CO OF MASS." appear in the tiniest letters below the words "Peanut Butter" on one side of the...
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. Decora...
This fine and rare pottery tile dates to the Jin Dynasty (AD 1115 - 1234). It is made from a dense fine-grained grey pottery. It features a carved figure in relief, the figure holding a staff in its right hand and, possibly, wiping away tears with the left hand. Theatre, opera and music were immensely popular during the Jin Dynasty and over the years various pottery tiles have been excavated from Shanxi province depicting a whole...
In very nice condition with minor scratches to paint here and there as seen in photos, this wind-up toy works, but the mechanism does have the tendency to stick a little. Marked J. Chein.
A must-have for the avid Black Memorabilia Toy collector!