Catalog (450)

Fine TALL Pair Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Lokapala Figures with Oxford TL Test  

This fine and impressive matching pair of pottery lokapala figures was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). They are "heavily-potted" and made from a reddish pottery that have been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments. On the surface in places there still remain traces of gold leaf. Note the exquisite detail of their clothing and hairstyle. They have clenched fists with ferocious facia...

Fine Pair of Chinese Early Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Walking Horses & Detachable Riders with Oxford TL Test

This exceptional pair of pottery horses was made during the early Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). They are finely-modelled and "full of life", both in the act of walking. One has its right leg forward with head turned to its left, the other has its left leg forward with its head turned a little to its right. Each has a separately-made rider seated on a saddle, one male, one female, tha...

Fine TALL Chinese Tang Dynasty White Pottery Guardian Figure with Oxford TL Test  

This undeniably impressive pottery figure of a guardian was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a fairly high-fired creamy-white pottery with traces of yellow, red and black "cold painted" pigments to the surface. He stands upon a rock, head turned slightly, with his hands out. Note the clothing and head gear: an armoured jacket secured with straps over his shoulder and a belt at he ...

A Pair of Large Chinese Early Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Foreigners (with Oxford TL Test)

This impressive and imposing pair of pottery figures was made during the early Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). They are "heavily-potted" and made from a fine-grained pale grey pottery. They have been "cold-painted" in a base coat of creamy-white pigment with faint traces of red and black pigments in places.

These figures represent a pair of foreign grooms and have been made with great attention to de...

Fine & Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Burnished Black Pottery Horse & Groom with Oxford TL Test

These impressive and attractive pottery models of a horse and groom were 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 t...

A Pair of Large Chinese Early Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Foreigners (with Oxford TL Test)

This impressive and imposing pair of pottery figures was made during the early Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). They are "heavily-potted" and made from a fairly high-fired pale greyish-brown pottery. They have been "cold-painted" in a base coat of creamy-white pigment with details picked out on top in red and black pigments, especially to the heads and faces.

These figures represent a pair of foreign ...

Set of Twelve Chinese Jin Dynasty Painted Pottery Filial Piety Tiles with Oxford TL Test (AD 1115 - 1234)

These interesting pottery tiles with the subjects depicted in high relief were made during the Jin Dynasty (AD 1115 - 1234). They are made from quite a high-fired grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments. Each tile depicts a scene from a story of the paragons of filial piety. Together they depict a total of thirty-four human figures (men, women and children)...

Set of Five Large Chinese Yuan / Ming Dynasty Painted Pottery Filial Piety Tiles with Oxford TL Test

These interesting pottery tiles with the subjects depicted in high relief with very good detail were made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) or possibly the early part of the following Ming Dynasty (AD 1368 - 1644). They are made from a high-fired grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments. Each tile depicts a scene from a story of the paragons of filial piet...

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...

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 Duck with Oxford TL Test

This very rare pottery model of a duck 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 surface in places are the ...

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...

Very Rare LARGE Chinese Qin Dynasty Military Listening Pottery Jar with Seal and 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, particularly crisp in places, ...

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 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....