This pottery "cocoon" jar was made over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). The shape, named after its similarity to the silkworm cocoon, evolved during the late Warring States period (475 - 221 BC) and then generally died out by the middle of the Western Han. It is made from a relatively highly-fired grey pottery and has been decorated by "cold painting" a variety of different coloured pigments in a design featuring...
This large pottery jar of "hu" form was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is "heavily-potted" and made from a fine-grained grey pottery that is relatively highly-fired. It has quite a large foot, wide body and a fairly short neck. On opposing sides at the waist are moulded "taotie" mask handles that are unusually large and with exceptional detail. Further decoration is provided by several wide bands that surrou...
This fine pottery model of a horse was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a fairly high-fired fine-grained grey pottery and has been "cold painted" in a pale pink pigment with details on top in red and black pigments. The horse stands upright and alert.
Height 27.5 cm. It is in fine condition with only faint traces of repair to a couple of the vulnerable legs (as should, of course, re...
This pottery jar of a very rare form 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 has an unusually tall neck for its general type that is not quite centred to the wide body. At its mouth is a flared rim with two loop handles on opposing sides. It is quite thinly-potted and highly-fired, made fro...
This unusual pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago during the Machang Phase (c. 2300 - 2000 BC), or possibly the earlier Banshan Phase (c.2600 - 2300 BC) of the Majiayao culture, also known as the Gansu-Yangshao culture, from present day Gansu or Qinghai province. It is quite thinly-potted and highly-fired, made from a pale yellowish-brown pottery. Joining the shoulder of the wide body to the flared mouth edge are two loop hand...
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 a well-made jar of fine form and good proportions. At the waist of its wide body are two sturdy loop handles. At the top of its wide body is quite a narrow neck with a flared mouth.
It is quite highly-fired ...
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 interesting pottery jar was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279), or possibly the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) and has been been excavated from a Buddhist site in Yunnan province. It is made from a relatively highly-fired grey pottery. The reddish-brown surface colour is from the iron-rich burial soil.
The jar has a flat base with marks left showing it was removed from the potter's wheel by a piece of string or wire....
This rare complete set of twelve pottery zodiac figures was made during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), c. 1500 - 1600.. They are made from a reddish pottery that have been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments. Each figure wares the robes and headgear of an official and holds one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.
With the heights ranging from 19 cm to 19.5 cm, these figures are larger than some known exa...
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, very good amounts of which still remain. The figure wears a hood and stands alert with his right hand across his chest. Li...
Perhaps the most desirable and collectable pottery sculpture from the Tang Dynasty is the female courtier, or "fat lady". This fine example was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906).
The lady stands with her head turned a little to her left and tilted slightly at a quizzical" angle. She is wearing a particularly voluminous long robe. Her hands are clearly held together across her chest beneath her ...
This fine and attractive deep porcelain bowl was made in the Southern Song Dynasty (AD 1127 - 1279). The inner surface is decorated with an unusual moulded floral pattern whilst the underside is decorated with a repeating carved leaf pattern. It is unusual for both upper and lower surfaces of a qingbai bowl to be decorated. It is coated in a delicate and finely-crackled pale green qingbai glaze, save for...