Catalog (320)

Very Rare LARGE Chinese Qin Dynasty Pottery Cocoon / Listening Jar with Oxford TL Test

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...

Fine Tall Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Lady with Oxford TL Test (44cm)

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...

Fine Pair of Tall Chinese Han Dynasty Burnished Pottery Vases

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...

Very Fine and Rare Large Chinese Qin Dynasty or Warring States Pottery Model of a Stove featuring Fish & Seafood

This extremely rare and impressive pottery model of a cooking stove was made during either the Qin Dynasty (221 – 206 BC) or possibly earlier, during the latter part of the preceding Warring States period (475 – 221 BC). It is made from quite a high-fired grey pottery that has a distinct ring to it when tapped. Its main upper surface is wonderfully decorated with finely-detail...

Exceptionally LARGE Chinese Neolithic / Bronze Age Impressed Pottery Jar with Oxford TL Test

This extremely rare and imposing pottery jar dates to the around the 1st millennium BC, the late Chinese Neolithic / Bronze Age period. It is, without doubt, the largest and most substantial pottery jar we have ever encountered from this period. It has a rounded base and the whole of the outer surface has been decorated with repeated coarsely-woven cord impressions. Interestingly the inner surface be...

Rare Tall Chinese Warring States Impressed Pottery Jar (475 - 221 BC)

This very rare large and impressive pottery jar was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). It is "heavily-potted" and made from a hard high-fired pottery. The body is topped with a fairly wide and tall neck, its cylindrical form then tapering inwards towards the flat base. The surface has been deeply impressed with a repeated geometric pattern all the way from below the neck to the base.

Height 44 cm (17...

Fine Large Tang Dynasty White Pottery Female Courtier with Oxford TL Test

One of the most desirable and collectable form of pottery sculpture from ancient China is, of course, the female courtier, or "fat lady", from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). This exceptional example, with a height of 43 cm, is considerably larger than most known Tang dynasty "fat ladies". She wears a voluminous robe with long sleeves, her right hand raised and held across her stomach, her feet protruding from the hem...

Fine Large Early Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Separate Saddle (with Oxford TL Test)

This fine and impressive pottery model of a horse was made during the early Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is "heavily-potted" and made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been cold-painted in a creamy-white pigment with small amounts of red pigment in places, such as within the nostrils. On its back is a large saddle, made separately, that can be removed. This is a strong horse giving an impressio...

Fine LARGE Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Hu Jar & Cover (with Oxford TL Test)

This large and imposing pottery jar, of "hu" form, was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from grey pottery and has a particularly wide body, the neck flaring out into a wide mouth. Unusually, it comes complete with its original cover.

The surface has been thickly cold-painted with a creamy-white pigment on top of which are swirls and geometric patterns in yellow-ochr...

Large Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Camel with Oxford TL Test

This unusually large and impressive pottery model of a Bactrian camel was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is heavily-potted and made from a fairly high-fired buff-coloured pottery. In places on the surface are firing cracks, likely due to the thickness of the pottery. The surface has been cold-painted in a yellow-ochre coloured pigment on top of which have been painted reddish-brown and black pigments for th...

Fine LARGE Chinese Neolithic Banpo Cord-Impressed Pottery Amphora with Oxford TL Test

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....

Fine & Rare Large Chinese Yuan Dynasty Burnished Black Pottery Horse

This impressive and attractive pottery model of a horse was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). Such figures from the Yuan Dynasty are very distinctive and are particularly rare and desirable. The surface of these figures is typically fired to grey, or almost black, and sometimes, as in this case, burnished to a smooth finish.

The horse is laden with a pack on its back, on top of which is tied a tiger skin. N...

Fine Large Chinese Neolithic Banshan Painted Pottery Jar

This impressive pottery jar was, incredibly, made around 4,500 years ago during the Banshan Phase (c. 2600 - 2300 BC) of the Majiayao culture, also known as the Gansu-Yangshao culture, from present day Gansu or Qinghai province.

This jar is made from a relatively highly-fired pale reddish pottery. For its size it is relatively thinly-potted. It has two sturdy loops handles on opposing side of the waist. It has a smooth burnished s...

Fine Large Chinese Warring States Impressed Pottery Jar with Oxford TL Test (475 - 221 BC)

This very rare large and impressive pottery jar was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). It is made from a hard high-fired pottery. The body widens as it goes up from the base to a horizontal shoulder and then into quite a wide but short neck with a flared mouth. The body is covered with repeated impressed geometric patterns, a smaller design to the upper body and a larger design to th...

A Fine Pair of Tall Chinese Tang Dynasty Male & Female Painted Pottery Figures with Oxford TL Tests

This fine and impressive matching pair of male and female figures was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). They are made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" in coloured pigments. They are similarly dressed in long-sleeved robes. Note also the upturned footwear and the distinctive headdresses and hairstyles. 

As with many of our finer items, we have had both o...

TALL Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Sichuan Pottery Farmer (81cm / 32")

This tall pottery figure was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and has been excavated from Sichuan province. It is made from a reddish pottery and is highly detailed. Such figures are usually referred to as farmers, although during this period Sichuan farmers were also called upon by their masters to become soldiers when required. As well as holding a long-handled spade in one hand and a winnowing tray in th...

TALL Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Sichuan Pottery Farmer with Shield

This tall pottery figure was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and has been excavated from Sichuan province. Such figures are usually referred to as farmers, although during this period Sichuan farmers were also called upon by their masters to become soldiers when required. This figure holds in his left hand a long sword, and in his right hand a shield. There is also a short knife attached to his belt. He wea...

Fine & Rare Chinese Warring States Pottery Bird with Oxford TL Test

This very rare pottery model of a bird, either a duck or a goose, was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). It is "heavily-potted" and made from quite a high-fired grey pottery. The duck stands with its neck and wings stretched, as if in the act of preparing to fly. Note the detail, especially to the wings, with the tiger heads. The style and decoration suggest this model was based on a bronze example. On the...