This large and impressive pottery jar was made by peoples of the Caiyuan Culture (c. 2600 - 2200 BC) and has been excavated from the Ningxia Autonomous Region in the north of China. It is quite "heavily-potted" and has been fired to a very pleasing pale yellowish-brown with the surface colour becoming more red in places. The upper surface has been burnished and is very smooth to the touch. The lower surface has been simply yet ...
This fine and incredibly ancient pottery vessel was made over 6,000 years ago during the Banpo phase (c. 4800 - 4300 BC) of the Yangshao culture in present-day Shaanxi province. This form is probably the most well-known of Banpo pottery, if not of all Chinese Neolithic pottery, and no serious collection of Chinese ceramics should be without an example!
It has a tall cup-shaped mouth and a pointed base....
This large and impressive 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 surface colour of the pottery varies in places, a result of uneven conditions during firing. It has a short neck with flared mouth, and two sturdy loop handles on opposing sides at the waist. The outside of the jar a...
This oversized vessel, in the form of a "cocoon jar", was made during the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC) or possibly a little earlier during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC), but even then by the Qin state. It is made from a fairly high-fired fine-grained grey pottery. The whole of the outer surface of the body is decorated with repeated cord or woven impressions with vertical bands then being made aro...
Arguably the most desirable and collectable pottery sculpture from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 – 906) is the female courtier, or "fat lady". This figure is a large and particularly elegant example.
The lady stands upright with her hands clasped together under her voluminous robe. Note also the elaborate hairstyle but most striking are the fine details to her face: simply exquisite! It is made from a buff-col...
This rare and impressive stoneware jar was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 -1279). It is quite "heavily-potted" with the outer body and inner mouth coated in an attractive chocolate-brown glaze, that has an almost "silvery" sheen to it. The applied decoration around the shoulder features a dragon chasing a pearl. The pearl represents wisdom, prosperity, power, immortality and the moon, and is also used as ...
This fine, impressive and very rare pair of pottery vases was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8) or possibly a little earlier. They are of a particularly pleasing and elegant form, the wide bodies rising up from the flat bases, then constricting into long slender necks and finally opening up into fairly wide mouths. They are quite "heavily-potted" and made from a dense fine-grained dark grey pottery, the surface o...
This attractive porcelain dish was made during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty. This particular type of ware is referred to as "Zhangzhou" or "Swatow" ware and it was commonly exported around south-east Asia. The underglaze blue decoration is of very good colour. The pattern features a chilong (qilong) dragon in a landscape with three further dragons around the cavetto interspersed with p...
This attractively-shaped porcelain jar was made during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty. Both jar and cover are decorated in underglaze blue with scrolling floral and lotus patterns, and coated in a silky smooth glaze. The inner surface of the jar is also glazed whereas the underside of the cover and the recessed flat base of the jar remain unglazed revealing the pale porcelain body.
Diameter 11 cm, height 11 cm. C...
This rare blue & white porcelain jar of hexagonal form was made during the 16th Century. It is quite "heavily-potted" and attractively decorated in underglaze blue of good colour. Each of the six sides features a chrysanthemum blossom (the emblem of friendship and representing a life of ease). Around the shoulder is what is possibly a cloud collar (representing long life). As can be seen, on the edges of the sides there is "frit...
This deep bowl is stoutly potted, being rather heavy toward the base, with the wall thinning gradually to the slightly flaring rim. It rests on a tall, thick footring, with a deep base that is glazed down to the dense, white porcelain paste that is exposed with some kiln grit adhering. The design in underglaze cobalt blue is of chrysanthemums, grasses and three stylized bats. The interior has a broad unglazed ring around the bottom to allow it to be stacked during ...