Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Chinese (298)

This attractively-shaped pottery jar was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is relatively highly-fired and has been made from flat slabs of pottery that have been luted together in imitation of an archaic bronze vessel. Its form is unique to the Western Han period and is known as a "feng ping". It still retains its original cover...

This attractively-shaped pottery jar was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is relatively highly-fired and has been made from flat slabs of pottery that have been luted together in imitation of an archaic bronze vessel. Its form is unique to the Western Han period and is known as a "feng ping". It still retains its original cover...

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 leaf panels...

Arguably the most desirable pottery sculpture from the Tang Dynasty is the female courtier, or "fat lady". This figure was made around the mid 8th century and is a particularly elegant example. The lady stands with her hands clasped together under her flowing robe and her head turned a little to the left. Note also the elaborate hairstyle...

This fine-quality pottery vessel, complete with its original cover, was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery and quite highly-fired, both vessel and cover each having a distinct ring when tapped. This vessel, a ding, has sturdy square-cut handles and stands on three feet...

This fine-quality pottery vessel, complete with its original cover, was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery and quite highly-fired, both vessel and cover each having a distinct ring when tapped. This vessel, a ding, has sturdy square-cut handles and stands on three feet...

This fine-quality round pottery box, complete with original cover, was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery and quite highly-fired, both box and cover having a distinct ring when tapped. The design of this box is very simple yet also elegant and pleasing to the eye...

This fine-quality round pottery box, complete with original cover, was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery and quite highly-fired, both box and cover having a distinct ring when tapped. The design of this box is very simple yet also elegant and pleasing to the eye...

This wonderfully-shaped pottery jar was made during the early part of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8) or possibly as early as the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC). This type of jar is often referred to as a "cocoon jar" due to the shape of its body...

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...

This large and impressive pottery model of what we assume to be a farm house was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220). It is made from a pinkish-coloured pottery, the surface of which has fired to a pale grey colour. It has a large gabled roof with deep grooves and horizontal incised lines to represent tiles. The ridge along the top has been incised to show three rows of ridge tiles...

This pottery model of a saddled horse was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is "heavily-potted" and made from a reddish pottery. The horse stands alert with its head head up. The surface has been "cold painted" in a reddish-brown pigment with details picked out in red, black and white pigments.

Height 28 cm. It is in good condition with any possible repairs having been performed to a professional standard.

This horse is...

This very 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 a variety of finer vessels such as this, with none, one, two or three handles, although those with three handles are extremely rare. It is relatively highly-...

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...

This 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. It is quite "heavily-potted" with a smooth surface and is fairly 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 decor...

This very rare pottery vessel was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). It is quite highly-fired and "heavily-potted" with a sturdy handle and the mouth fashioned to form a pouring lip. It was originally painted with diagonal lines in white pigment, although only faint traces of this now remains. Note the round protrusion to the inner surface where the handle is joined to the body. To the flat base there appears to be a mou...

This fine example of a painted pottery ding was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is a large example of its type, made from a fine-grained grey pottery and relatively highly-fired, having a distinct ring when tapped. The lower part stands on three long curved legs and has two curved square-cup handles on opposing sides. The upper part is adorned with three moulded appliqués (horses with ...

These fine and very rare pottery ladies were made during either the Sui Dynasty (AD 581 - 518) or the early part of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). They are made from a fine-grained grey pottery and are particularly well-detailed; note the detail of the faces, the hairstyle, the folds of the clothing with the very long sleeves. Traces of the original "cold painted" surface pigment remain. 

Height 25.5 cm. Fine condition with...

This moulded and "heavily-potted" pottery tile was made during the Jin Dynasty (AD 1115 - 1234) and has been excavated from Shanxi province in the northern region of China. Theatre, opera and music was immensely popular during the Jin Dynasty and in recent years various pottery tiles have been excavated depicting a whole range of musicians and characters from various musical and artistic performances. 

This particular tile de...

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 just above its waist. It is coated in an attractive orange/amber glaze, the shade of which varies slightly according to the thickness of the glaze. There are a couple of kiln scars within the glaze ...

This very rare and unusual pottery jar was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a grey pottery and has been formed in a two-piece mould, each half having been luted together at the sides. The cover is in the form of a bird and, likewise, has also been made in a two-piece mould. The body of the jar has two moulded ring handles. Both jar and cover have been "cold painted" in a "swirling" pattern compri...

This pottery figure was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a relatively high-fired creamy-white pottery (often regarded as better quality and more desirable than red-pottery figures) that has been cold-painted in various coloured pigments, good traces of which still remain. He stands obediently, hands clasped together across his waist, with his head turned very slightly to his left. This figure is particularly well-de...

This stone panel, sometimes described as a "prayer tablet", was excavated from a Buddhist site in Yunnan province in the South-West of China and dates to the 13th to 14th century, i.e. the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279), Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) or possibly the early Ming Dynasty. It is one of several that we bought nearly twenty years ago to compliment our collection of Yunnan Buddhist pottery, that have since been in sto...

This stone panel, sometimes described as a "prayer tablet", was excavated from a Buddhist site in Yunnan province in the South-West of China and dates to the 13th to 14th century, i.e. the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279), Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) or possibly the early Ming Dynasty. It is one of several that we bought nearly twenty years ago to compliment our collection of Yunnan Buddhist pottery, that have since been in sto...

This stone panel, sometimes described as a "prayer tablet", was excavated from a Buddhist site in Yunnan province in the South-West of China and dates to the 13th to 14th century, i.e. the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279), Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) or possibly the early Ming Dynasty. It is one of several that we bought nearly twenty years ago to compliment our collection of Yunnan Buddhist pottery, that have since been in sto...

This stone panel, sometimes described as a "prayer tablet", was excavated from a Buddhist site in Yunnan province in the South-West of China and dates to the 13th to 14th century, i.e. the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279), Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) or possibly the early Ming Dynasty. It is one of several that we bought nearly twenty years ago to compliment our collection of Yunnan Buddhist pottery, that have since been...

This stone panel, sometimes described as a "prayer tablet", was excavated from a Buddhist site in Yunnan province in the South-West of China and dates to the 13th to 14th century, i.e. the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279), Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) or possibly the early Ming Dynasty. It is one of several that we bought nearly twenty years ago to compliment our collection of Yunnan Buddhist pottery, that have since been ...

This rare and attractive pottery model of a horse & rider was made during the Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386 - 534). It has been "cold painted" in a base coat of a white pigment on top of which are traces of red and black pigments. The horse stands upright with its head turned a little to its left. The rider's body is also turned to its left with the right arm raised; note also the detail of the rider's clothing.

Height 27.5 ...

This impressive pottery horse and rider was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery and is quite "heavily-potted". It has been cold-painted in various coloured pigments, good traces of which still remain. The horse stands upright and alert with its head and neck turned very slightly to its left. The rider, with his body turned to the left, has his arms raised as though ho...

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 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...

This very rare 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 buff-coloured pottery that has been coated in a green glaze that is very thin in places.

Around the waist of the jar have been applied twelve mouldings, the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. The upper body...

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 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.

Strips of clay have been applied to the outer wall to form six lotus leaves. Within each lotus leaf panel have been ...

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 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 fine pottery model of a foreign groom was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been cold-painted in a base coat of white pigment on top of which is black pigment in places. At the end of the arms are purpose-made holes where originally would have been fixed separate hands, probably made of wood and now long since rotted away and lost. Note the details of the unusual hat, t...

This very rare pottery vessel was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). It is "heavily-potted" with a sturdy handle and the mouth fashioned to form a pouring lip. It was originally painted with diagonal lines in white and orange-brown pigments, although only faint traces of this now remains. Note the round protrusion to the inner surface where the handle is joined to the body. To the flat base there appears to be a moulded sym...

This rare pottery jar was made in the 12th / 13th century during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279), or possibly the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368).

It is made from a buff-coloured pottery and is of globular form standing on an integral foot. The upper part of the jar has been decorated with incised lotus leaf panels each containing a tree pattern. Above these is an incised geometric pattern surrounding the mouth. To the lower ...

This rare pottery jar was made in the 12th / 13th century 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 buff-coloured pottery and is of globular form standing on an integral foot. Both cover and jar are decorated with incised lines, on the jar forming lotus leaf panels. Some of the lines on both the...

This rare pottery jar was made in the 12th / 13th century 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 buff-coloured pottery and is of globular form standing on an integral foot. Both cover and jar are decorated with bands of incised parallel lines, on the jar forming lotus leaf shapes. Some of the...

This fine pottery jar was made during the Eastern Zhou period (770 - 221 BC). It is made from a relatively highly-fired fine grey pottery. It has a round base that has been decorated with cord impressions that are particularly crisp. On opposing sides of the shoulder are small square-cut handles. The neck is slightly ridged for additional decoration and it has a flared mouth. 

Height 18.5 cm (7.25 inches). Condition is very ...

This fine and attractively-shaped pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago 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 finely-potted with a wide body that tapers down to a relatively small base and one handle from the shoulder to the flared mouth. The upper surface has been burnished smooth. 

Height 29 cm (11.5 inches), diameter 27 ...

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, therefore, more durable than lower-fired examples. The inside of the mouth and the upper body have been coated in a reddish-brown wash on top of which have been painted geometr...

This large and impressive pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago 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 relatively highly-fired and has been fired to a very pleasing pale yellowish-brown colour. The upper surface has been burnished and is smooth to the touch. The lower surface has been simply yet effectively decora...

This very rare and unusual pottery model of a horse & rider was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). The body of the horse, complete with the rider, has been made in a two-piece mould. the join running along the horse's neck and back and the sides of the rider. Note the detail of the rider, his clothing and his hands. Note also the sturdy legs of the horse and the way the tail joins the cut-out base to give extra strength to the...

This unusual model of a horse & rider was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a creamy-white pottery that has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments. Note the detail of the overweight rider's clothing and hairstyle, who seems to be slumped in the horse's saddle !

Height 27.5cm. Repairs should, of course, realistically be expected for such pottery figures. The left lower front body of the horse has been ...

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 "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. The form of this particular example is a little different to some others with its more "rounded" body and shorter foot. It is made from a relatively highly-fire...

This tall and attractively-shaped pottery vessel was made around 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Qijia Culture in eastern Gansu province, China dating from approx. 2050 - 1700 BC. It is relatively highly-fired. The lower surface has been decorated with repeated vertical lines whereas the upper surface has been burnished to a smooth finish. At the waist are two loop handles, with the surface of the body on the inside of the handles slightly d...

This tall and attractively-shaped pottery vessel was made around 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Qijia Culture in eastern Gansu province, China dating from approx. 2050 - 1700 BC. It is relatively highly-fired and the colour of the pottery varies in places due to uneven conditions in the Neolithic kiln. The surface, especially the upper half, is smooth to the touch. Decoration is modest with an incised band around the neck and simple impress...

This rare and 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. 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 jar is relatively highly-fired and is quite an unusual shape with its almost spher...

This large and impressive pottery jar dates to the Siwa culture (c. 1350 BC). It has a relatively small flat base and a wide saddle-shaped mouth. There are two loop handles that join the shoulder to the rim. The surface colour of the pottery has interesting variations in places, from an attractive deep orange to grey, a result of uneven conditions during the firing process. The clay is quite gritty and in places there are surface ...

This rare pottery jar was made around 3,000 years ago. Although we are not certain from which Neolithic culture it originates, it does have similarities to pottery of the Xindian Culture (c. 1200 - 500 BC). It is fairly "heavily-potted" and the surface colour of the pottery varies considerably due to uneven conditions in the kiln during firing. It a has a convex base with two wide loop handles and a castellated rim. The entire outer surface has be...

This rare pottery jar was made around 3,000 years ago. Although we are not certain from which Neolithic culture it originates, it does have similarities to pottery of the Xindian Culture (c. 1200 - 500 BC). The surface colour of the pottery varies considerably due to uneven conditions in the kiln during firing. It a has a convex base with two wide loop handles and a castellated decorative band around both sides of the mouth. The outer surface has ...

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 very rare and unusual pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Majiayao Culture, most likely during the Banshan phase (c. 2600 - 2300 BC). It is made from quite a coarse pottery and fairly "crudely" made. It is of a most unusual form with the small loop handle at its top and the wide spout. 

Diameter 13.5 cm, height 10 cm. Although not immediately obvious, we believe the handle has ...

This small pottery jar, or cup, 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. Most known Machang jars of this approximate size have two handles; jars such as this with only one handle are particularly rare. The outer surface and inner mouth have been decorated with geometric patterns using fired-...