This large and impressive pottery jar dates to the Siwa culture (c. 1350 BC), one of the later Chinese Neolithic cultures overlapping the Bronze Age, and has been excavated from Gansu or Qinghai province in the north-west of China. It is of a very attractive shape: from its fairly small flat base, the body spreads out to a wide waist and then tapers in again to a neck of about the same width as the base before flaring out to fo...
This attractive large porcelain dish was made during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty. It is of the type known as "Swatow" or "Zhangzhou" ware. It is coated in a thick glaze, the bold underglaze blue decoration of good colour featuring in the centre, a standing phoenix, surrounded by various floral patterns and flower blossoms. The outer wall is decorated with simple thin blue lines. The sand/gri...
This fine pottery jar was made some 4,000 years ago. Although it was excavated from Gansu province, we are not certain from which Neolithic culture it derives although it is probably a product of the Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC).� It is well-made and quite highly-fired, having a distinct ring when tapped. The lower body has been decorated with an impressed, almost spiral pattern. The upper body has a smooth burnished finish and has been coa...
This rare and interesting pottery vessel was made by peoples of the Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC). Such vessels are sometimes called "owl" jars. It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a grey pottery that is relatively highly-fired. The "top" of the vessel, as well as the surface of the single andle, has woven impressions, most likely made when this piece of clay was being formed, resting on some kind of woven m...
This small 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 made from a fairly high-fired pale pottery and is of a very unusual and rare form with its wide body, small unflared mouth, no handles and four pairs of purpose-made holes around its shoulder. These holes were clearly made ...
This small 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 made from a fairly high-fired pale pottery and is of a very unusual and rare form with its wide body, small unflared mouth, no handles and four pairs of purpose-made holes around its shoulder. These holes were clearly made ...
This interesting pottery vessel was made over 3,000 years ago during the Chinese Neolithic or early Bronze Age. The form is of a cooking vessel and the three wide udder-shaped legs allow it to be stood in a fire with as much heat as possible being transmitted to its contents. It is not always easy to determine exactly which culture such vessels come from as similar vessels were made by various Chinese cultures. However, we understand this example was exc...
This interesting pottery vessel was made over 3,000 years ago during the Chinese Neolithic or early Bronze Age. The form is of a cooking vessel and the three wide udder-shaped legs allow it to be stood in a fire with as much heat as possible being transmitted to its contents. It is not always easy to determine exactly which culture such vessels come from as similar vessels were made by various Chinese cultures. However, we understand this example was exc...
This interesting pottery vessel was made over 3,000 years ago during the Chinese Neolithic or early Bronze Age. The form is of a cooking vessel and the three wide udder-shaped legs allow it to be stood in a fire with as much heat as possible being transmitted to its contents. It is not always easy to determine exactly which culture such vessels come from as similar vessels were made by various Chinese cultures. However, we understand this example was exc...
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 is relatively highly-fired. It has a short neck with flared mouth, and two sturdy loop handles on opposing sides at the waist. The outside of the jar and the mouth have been decorated with geometric pat...
This large and impressive pottery jar was made around the 13th / 14th century, during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279) or the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). Until recent years, this type of jar was almost unknown in the west with some people initially attributing them to the Liao Dynasty (same general period but in the north of China). These jars are now known to have originated from Yunnan province in the south-...
This attractively-shaped pottery vessel with its flared foot and wide body was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). It is "heavily-potted" and made from a fine-grained grey pottery. Geometric patterns have been lightly incised on the upper surface of the body as well as surrounding the stem and foot. The small cover has a "stepped" pattern.
Height 12.75 cm. It is in very good condition and has no s...
This fine-quality deep porcelain bowl was made in the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279) around the 12th Century. It has a foliated rim and the inner surface is decorated with incised and combed wave patterns. It is coated in a pale blue qingbai glaze of good colour, save for the small recessed flat base that remains unglazed.
It is quite a large bowl with a diameter of 19cm (7.5 inches). Although it is f...
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 nine bands of double-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 ...
This 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 inside of the mouth and the upper body have been decorated with geometric patterns in purple and black fired-on mineral-based pigments. Most known Machang jars of this general size and type have two handles; this is particularly rare ha...
This twin-handled 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 relatively highly-fired and made from a buff-coloured pottery with a smooth burnished surface. It has a wide body and two loop handles joined at the waist and upper neck. The outer surface and inner mouth ...
This twin-handled 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 relatively highly-fired and made from a buff-coloured pottery with a smooth burnished surface. It has a wide body and two loop handles joined at the waist and upper neck. The outer surface and inner mouth ...
This rare and unusual jar was made some 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Neolithic Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC), in the north of China, what is now eastern Gansu province. It is made from a gritty reddish pottery. The outer surface has the impressions made by the shaping tool and there are horizontal notched strips of clay applied to the lower body. What makes this jar so rare and unusual, however, are the four loop handles and the...
This attractive pear-shaped vase was made during the Southern Song Dynasty (AD 1127 - 1279), most likely at one of the kilns in Fujian province. Interestingly it is made in several sections that have been luted together. The mid section is decorated with a scrolling lotus blossom pattern, below which is a repeating lotus leaf pattern. It is coated in a finely-crackled greenish-blue qingbai glaze that stops short of its foot. The in...
This deep porcelain bowl was made in the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279) during the 12th - 13th century. The inner surface is decorated with swirling incised / combed patterns. It is coated in a finely-crackled pale blue qingbai glaze, save for the small flat base that remains unglazed. The glaze is uneven and is a little stained in places suggesting it lay alongside a rusting iron object during its long burial.
It ...
This interesting pottery model of a groom was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a fairly high-fired grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in white, red, pink and black pigments. The figure wears a long garment and a head covering. He stands with his left hand outstretched as if holding the reigns of a horse (see our last image for an illustration of this). There are purp...
This "heavily-potted" small jar was made during the 13th / 14th century at the Longquan kilns, Zhejiang province. It has been made in two moulded sections, upper and lower, that were luted together prior to glazing. The upper part is decorated with a four-clawed dragon and the lower part with cloud and wave patterns. The surface is coated in a thick celadon glaze save for the slightly concave flat base.
Diameter 8.5 cm ...
This rare small jar was made during the 13th / 14th century at the Longquan kilns, Zhejiang province. It is coated in a thick celadon glaze and has a particularly attractive and crisp moulded floral pattern including lotus blossoms. There are two small loop handles at the shoulder. The unglazed base is slightly concave.
Diameter 6.5 cm (2.5 inches). No repair or restoration; a lovely example in ...
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 fairly high-fired pale grey pottery, the yellowish-brown surface colour being due to the iron-rich Yunnan soil.
Strips of clay have been applied to the outer wall to form two bands each of six lotus l...
This attractive pear-shaped vase was made during the Southern Song Dynasty (AD 1127 - 1279), most likely at one of the kilns in Fujian province. Interestingly it is made in several sections that have been luted together. The mid section is decorated with a scrolling floral pattern. The outer body is coated in a particularly glossy and finely-crackled pale green transparent qingbai glaze. The glaze also extends just into the inner m...
This extremely rare (unique?) porcelain wine cup was made during the 12th - 14th Century (Song - Yuan Dynasty). The inner surface is coated in a finely-crackled pale olive-green celadon or qingbai type of glaze. But its most interesting feature is the unglazed textured outer wall, decorated with cord or fabric impressions. There is a firing bubble to the inner surface.
Height 3.8 cm. It is in fine conditi...
This rare and unusual painted pottery figure was made during the Northern Qi Dynasty (AD 550 - 577). It is made from a relatively highly-fired grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments, traces of which still remain. Note the details of the clothing, the headgear, both tied with a bow, and the facial features. Where the hands are clasped together under the cloak is a purpose-made hole where original...
This pottery model of a duck was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and has been excavated in Sichuan province. It is very "heavily" potted and sturdy, and has been made in a two-part mould. Note the detail of the feathers on its back.
It is of a good size with a length of 17.5 cm. It is in good condition with no obvious sign of restoration or repair.
*** TO ORDER THIS ITEM PLEASE EMAIL US QUOTING OUR STOCK NUMBER (see above) - ...
This covered stoneware box was made during the 13th - 15th centuries at the Sawankhalok kilns. It is elaborately decorated in underglaze blue with a ring of yellowish-brown glaze around the moulded top of the cover that is in the form of picked fruit. Diameter 9.75 cm, height 8 cm. There are a couple of fine hairline cracks to the edge of the cover and minor chips to the edge of the box. No repair or restoration; overall a nice examp...
This small porcelain bowl was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279). It is coated in a thick qingbai glaze that has a hint of blue to it. The small flat, slightly concave, foot remains unglazed.
Diameter 10.5 cm (4 inches). It is in fine condition and has no restoration or repair.
From a group of Song to Ming porcelain items we are selling from a distinguished West Country family collection acquired over several decades (s...
This attractively-shaped bowl was made in the 13th - 14th century during the Yuan (AD 1279 - 1368) or early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). It is particularly "heavily-potted" and coated in quite a thick finely-crackled celadon glaze save for the unglazed stacking ring in its centre and its heavy foot. The glaze has a very pleasant "silky-smooth" feel to it. This high-fired type of ware is variously described as stoneware or porcelai...
This large and nicely-shaped pottery jar was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220) or possibly earlier, during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). It is made from a relatively high-fired dense grey pottery. To the worn upper surface there are traces of faint very lightly incised bands. The lower body is decorated with surrounding combed lines. To the shoulder there is a small depression that most likely occurred during firi...
This fine small porcelain jar was made during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty, or possibly a little earlier. It is finely decorated in underglaze blue with a pattern featuring blossoming branches, the pattern having a dark outline.
Height 9 cm. No repair or restoration; fine condition.
The collection number on the paper label to the base is that of the late Grahame Clarke, master potter, who originally bought this...
This pottery model of a horse with saddle was made during the early part of the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368 - 1644). It is made from a reddish pottery that has been "cold painted" in a white pigment with details picked out in green, red and black pigments on top of the white. Note the fine detail of the horse's mane. In places on the underside are the remains of ancient root/plants growths from its long burial.
Height 26 cm, lengt...
This attractive pear-shaped vase was made during the Southern Song Dynasty (AD 1127 - 1279), most likely at one of the kilns in Fujian province. Interestingly it is made in several sections that have been luted together. The mid section is decorated with a scrolling lotus blossom pattern, below which is a repeating lotus leaf pattern. The body and inner mouth are coated in a pale greenish qingbai glaze that has a ...
This jar was made some 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Neolithic Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC), from what is now eastern Gansu province. They produced a variety of pottery vessels including cord-impressed pottery of many shapes and sizes. This particular example is made from a coarse gritty clay and has a wide flaring mouth. There is a ridge around the shoulder below which the main surface of the body is decorated with cord impre...