Catalog (315)

This attractively-shaped pottery jar, or cup, was made around 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Neolithic Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC), from what is now eastern Gansu province, China. It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery that is fairly highly-fired. There are two "strap" handles joined at the waist and mouth edge. The surface has been burnished making it smooth to the touch. This form is typical of sma...

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. Decoration is fairly simple with strips of clay applied to the upper body to form four lotus leaf panels. Between the top of each leaf are incised lines and small circles.

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This attractive moulded porcelain bowl with an iron-brown edged foliate rim was made during the 18th century. The underglaze blue decoration of very good colour features three human figures in a garden. Around the outer wall is an elaborate scrolling design.

Diameter 13 cm. It is in fine condition with no repair or restoration and a good ring when tapped.

For information: This bowl was sold to a local collector by o...

This 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. 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 more "heavily-potted" than some. It has a particularly pleasing form with its wide body and wide flared mouth. ...

This fine pottery jar was made around 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Neolithic Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC), from what is now eastern Gansu province, China. They produced a variety of pottery vessels including cord-impressed pottery of many shapes and sizes as well as finely-burnished jars such as this, with one, two or three handles. It is relatively highly-fired, having a distinct ring to it when tapped....

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. Below the neck the surface of the body is decorated with cord impressions that were repeatedly pressed ...

This pottery jar of "hu" form was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and comes from Shaanxi province in the northwest of China. It is made from a reddish pottery and has simple incised decorative bands surrounding the jar at its shoulder. The whole surface, including the base and inner mouth, is coated in a thin yellowish-brown glaze. The flat base has marks where the jar was removed from the potter's wheel wit...

This attractively-shaped pottery jar dates to the Siwa culture (c. 1350 BC), one of the later Chinese Neolithic cultures overlapping the Bronze Age. It has been fired to an attractive orange-red and has a burnished surface making it smooth to the touch and a pleasure to handle. It has a wide body with a relatively small flat base. There are two loop handles joining the shoulder to the mouth which is of the form sometimes referred to ...

This attractive small covered jar was made during the 13th / 14th Century (Song / Yuan Dynasty). It is quite "heavily-potted" for its type and is coated inside and out in a pale Qingbai-type glaze. The glaze falls short of the sturdy foot and the underside of the cover also remains unglazed. The cover has a carved pattern to give it the appearance of a tiled roof; this jar represents a granary. There are a couple of small kiln...

This attractive small covered jar was made during the 13th / 14th Century (Song / Yuan Dynasty). It is coated inside and out in a pale bluish Qingbai glaze. Around its waist are deeply incised lines for decoration and it stands on quite a sturdy foot. The cover has a carved pattern to give it the appearance of a tiled roof; this jar represents a granary. There is a defect to the edge of the cover, but as this is coated in glaze...

This attractive small covered jar was made during the 13th / 14th Century (Song / Yuan Dynasty). It is coated inside and out in a pale greenish Qingbai glaze that is finely crackled in places. The dome-shaped cover has a carved pattern to give it the appearance of a tiled roof; this jar represents a granary. To the inner surface are the remains of ancient plant/root growths from its long burial.

Height 8.5 cm. There is a ...

This attractive small covered jar was made during the 13th / 14th Century (Song / Yuan Dynasty). It is coated inside and out in a pale greenish Qingbai glaze, the colour of which varies in places on the body of the jar. The cover has a carved pattern to give it the appearance of a tiled roof; this jar represents a granary.

Height 8 cm. There is a chip to the edge of the rim where something had fused to the glaze during f...

This attractive small covered jar was made during the 13th / 14th Century (Song / Yuan Dynasty). It is coated inside and out in a pale yellowish-green Qingbai type of glaze that is very finely-crackled. The colour of the glaze varies a little, especially to the cover where the glaze is thinner. Part of the cover seems to have escaped its coating of glaze. The cover has a carved pattern to give it the appearance of a tiled roo...

This attractive small covered jar was made during the 13th / 14th Century (Song / Yuan Dynasty). It is coated inside and out in a pale green Qingbai glaze that is very finely-crackled. The colour of the glaze varies a little, especially to the cover where it is a little darker. This jar has an unusually sturdy foot for its type. The cover has a carved pattern to give it the appearance of a tiled roof; this jar represents a gra...

This attractive small covered jar was made during the 13th / 14th Century (Song / Yuan Dynasty). It is coated inside and out in a finely-crackled pale green Qingbai glaze. The cover has a carved pattern to give it the appearance of a tiled roof; this jar represents a granary. There are incised decorative bands that surround the body. The edge of the foot is rather poorly trimmed.

Height 8.5 cm. It is in fine condition with...

This attractive small covered jar was made during the 13th / 14th Century (Song / Yuan Dynasty). This jar has quite a wide body and is unusually "heavily-potted" for its type. It is coated inside and out in a pale green Qingbai glaze that is very finely-crackled. The colour of the glaze varies a little, especially to the cover where it is a little paler. The cover has a carved pattern to give it the appearance of a tiled roof...

This attractive small covered jar was made during the 13th / 14th Century (Song / Yuan Dynasty). This jar is a little more "heavily-potted" that other similar examples. It is coated inside and out in a pale greenish Qingbai glaze. The cover has a carved pattern to give it the appearance of a tiled roof; this jar represents a granary. Part of the edge of the cover has escaped the glaze and the unglazed part has fired to a reddi...

This attractive small covered jar was made during the 13th / 14th Century (Song / Yuan Dynasty). It is coated inside and out in a pale Qingbai type of glaze that is very finely-crackled. The colour of the glaze varies a little, appearing slightly paler to the cover and inner surface of the jar. The cover has a carved pattern to give it the appearance of a tiled roof; this jar represents a granary.

Height 9 cm. It is in g...

This rare pottery jar was made around 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Neolithic Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC), from what is now eastern Gansu province, China. They produced a variety of pottery vessels including cord-impressed pottery of many shapes and sizes as well as higher-fired jars such as this. This is quite an unusual shape with its wide body and two small loop handles on opposing sides of its ...

This attractively-shaped pottery jar was made around 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Neolithic Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC), from what is now eastern Gansu province, China. It is very thinly-potted and quite highly-fired, having an almost "metallic" ring to it when tapped. There are two "strap" handles joined at the waist and mouth edge. Much of the upper surface is coated with a thin layer of "calcified" s...

This iron axe head or chisel dates to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). Surviving iron objects of this age are very rare. This example does of course have rust and corrosion, and a small chip to the edge of the open end. It is free from restoration or repair. Length 15.5 cm (6 inches).  Please note that this object has not been treated in any way and should be handled carefully.

This is one of two almost ide...

This iron axe head or chisel dates to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). Surviving iron objects of this age are very rare. This example does of course have rust and corrosion, there is a small part missing at the open end together with some cracks, but it is free from restoration or repair. Length 15.5 cm (6 inches). Please note that this object has not been treated in any way and should be handled carefully - a s...

This small pottery model of a recumbent horse was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" in a white pigment. Note the detail of the horse's mane and its legs tucked under its body. Length 14 cm. A chip to its front left knee. No obvious sign of any repair.

Our last images above show other Tang Dynasty horses we are selling separately.

*** TO ORDER THIS ITEM P...

This small pottery model of a recumbent horse was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" in a white pigment. Note the detail of the horse's mane and its legs tucked under its body. Length 14 cm. No obvious sign of any repair - good condition.

Our last images above show other Tang Dynasty horses we are selling separately.

*** TO ORDER THIS ITEM PLEASE EMAIL US Q...

This saucer-dish was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279). Its inner surface and outer wall are coated in a very finely-crackled pale qingbai glaze that has just a hint of green. The inner surface is decorated with what appears to be an impressed floral decoration although the impression is quite faint. The rim remains purposely unglazed as does the flat concave base. Interestingly around the outer wall can be seen...

This attractive small porcelain jar was made in the 12th - 14th century during the Song (AD 960 - 1279) or the Yuan Dynasty (1279 - 1368). It is quite "heavily-potted" and coated in a thick pale olive-green glaze. The body, when soft, was indented with five wide vertical impressions to give it a lobed appearance. The foot remains unglazed revealing the pale grey body. There is a small kiln scar to the body.

Height 6.5 cm...

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 pale grey pottery. Decoration is fairly simple with strips of clay applied to the upper body to form five lotus leaf panels.

Height 24.75 cm (9.75 inches). Although it has not been properly cleaned since exc...

This interesting and attractive pottery tile was made during the Jin Dynasty (AD 1115 - 1234) and most likely comes from Shanxi province. The tile is made from quite a high-fired grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments. This tile depicts a scene from one of the twenty-four paragons of filial piety. Filial piety was, and still is, an important part of Chinese culture. We believe his tile depi...

This 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. 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. The surface colour varies and in places are what appear to be carbon deposits suggest...

Archaic Chinese Bronzes by Christian Deydier

This superbly produced book covers the first known Chinese bronzes through to and including those produced by the Shang Dynasty. It is very well researched and packed full of interesting background information as well as being extensively illustrated. Included are the relatively recent excavations from the Sichuan Culture site at Sanxingdui. An invaluable book for those interested not only in anc...

This sturdy storage jar dates to the 12th - 14th centuries. It is quite "heavily-potted" and has a rolled rim with four loo-handles speared equidistant around the shoulder. The streaky yellowish-brown glaze falls short of the unglazed base. Most likely it was made for export to south-east Asia.

Height 15.5 cm. There is an old crack to the mouth that has been stabilised; otherwise it is in good condition.

*** TO ORDER THIS ITEM PLEASE ...

This saucer-dish was made in the 13th - 14th century during the Yuan (AD 1279 - 1368) or early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). It is "heavily-potted" and coated in a thick lightly-crackled celadon glaze save for the foot that has fired to a deep reddish-brown. The glaze has a very pleasant "silky-smooth" feel to it. This high-fired type of ware is variously described as stoneware or porcelain and it certainly has quite a high-pitched sound when tap...

This is one of a group of moulded pottery tablets that we bought about twenty years ago. They are made from a relatively high-fired pottery and have a surprising amount of detail. They were made as amulets and votive offerings and were reported to have been excavated from the foundations of an ancient Buddhist temple, where originally many would have been placed to ensure the success of the temple. We find it quite difficult to date thes...

A pottery model of a folding wooden chair made during the 16th century (c.1500 - 1600). Made from a hard creamy-white pottery and coated in green and greenish-yellow glazes that have, in places, acquired a silvery iridescence, a result of very long exposure to moisture. There are also traces of red pigment in places.

Height 15 cm. No restoration or repair. Fine condition.

The final image shows a similar chair that is being sold...

This pottery figure was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It represents a male figure wearing a hooded cloak. It is "heavily-potted" and has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments, traces of which still remain. Height 19.5 cm. Very faint signs of possible repair at the waist.

*** TO ORDER THIS ITEM PLEASE EMAIL US QUOTING OUR STOCK NUMBER (see above) - WE SHALL THEN EMAIL YOU BACK WITH POSTAGE COSTS AND PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS...

This large porcelain dish is attractively decorated in underglaze blue, the design featuring pagodas and a blossoming tree in a rocky landscape. The flat surround of the dish is decorated with a moulded cross-hatch pattern and it has a foliate rim edged in iron-brown. To the base are the typical firing spur marks.

Maximum diameter 32.25 cm (12.75 inches). There is an old chip to the rim edge that appears to have been ...