Catalog (320)

This unusual object, a pottery model of a bucket, was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). Black, or dark grey, pottery objects dating to the Yuan Dynasty are not widely known. They are found in the northern provinces, particularly Gansu province in the north-west.

This item is quite heavily-potted and fairly highly-fired with a smooth burnished surface. Adhering to the inner surface are the remains of ancient root/plant growths f...

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...

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...

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 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 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 porcelain bowl with flared rim was made during the 12th - 13th Century (Late Song - Yuan Dynasty). It is fairly "heavily-potted" and coated in quite a dark greenish qingbai glaze that is finely-crackled. The rim edge remains unglazed and in places has fired to a deep reddish-brown. The inner surface is simply decorated with an abstract incised pattern whereas the underside is more elaborately decorated wi...

This pottery model of an official figure was made during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). It is quite highly-fired and made from a pale pinkish-brown pottery and includes an integral hexagonal plinth on which the figure stands. The head has been made separately and slots into the hole at the neck. The figure has been coated in green and amber glazes that have, over much of their surfaces, acquired a silvery iridescence, a result of long burial i...

This attractive pottery model of a horse was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" in white and reddish-brown pigments. This horse is well-modelled and stands upright and alert.

Height 23 cm (9 inches). A nice example in good condition with any possible repair having been performed to a professional standard.

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This attractive pottery model of a horse was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" in white and reddish-brown pigments. This horse is well-modelled and stands upright and alert.

Height 22.25 cm (8.75 inches). A nice example in good condition with any possible repair having been performed to a professional standard.

*** TO ORDER THIS ITEM PLEASE EMAIL U...

This attractive pottery model of a horse was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" in white and reddish-brown pigments. This horse is well-modelled and stands upright and alert.

Height 22 cm (8.5 inches). A nice example in good condition with any possible repair having been performed to a professional standard.

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

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...

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...

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...

This very attractive pottery model of a 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 creamy-white pigment. This horse is well-modelled and stands upright and alert with its head turned a little to its left.

Height 22 cm (8.5 inches). A fine example in very good condition.

*** TO ORDER THIS ITEM PLEASE EMAIL US QUOTING OUR STOCK NUMBER (see...

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...

This rare and impressive stoneware jar was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 -1279). It is quite "heavily-potted" with the outer body and inner mouth coated in an iron glaze, the colour of which varies from a "silvery" brown to black. The applied decoration around the shoulder features a dragon chasing a flaming pearl. The pearl represents wisdom, prosperity, power, immortality and the moon, and is also used...

This fine and rare pair of painted pottery jars, representing granaries, was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). They are made from a fairly high-fired grey pottery. They have cylindrical bodies, domed tops with fairly small circular openings. The ridges to the shoulder of each jar represent roof tiles. Each jar stands on three feet moulded into the form of a bear.

Many examples of...

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...

Arguably the most desirable pottery sculpture from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 – 906) is the female courtier, or "fat lady". This relatively small example is particularly elegant. It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been elaborately decorated in various coloured cold-painted pigments. The lady stands demurely with her hands clasped together under her flowing robe. Note also the detail of the facial features, th...

Arguably the most desirable pottery sculpture from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 – 906) is the female courtier, or "fat lady". This relatively small example is particularly elegant. It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been elaborately decorated in various coloured cold-painted pigments. The lady stands demurely with her hands clasped together under her flowing robe. Note also the detail of the facial features, th...

Arguably the most desirable pottery sculpture from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 – 906) is the female courtier, or "fat lady". This relatively small example is particularly elegant. It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been elaborately decorated in various coloured cold-painted pigments. The lady stands demurely with her hands clasped together under her flowing robe. Note also the detail of the facial features, th...

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.

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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 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 has since been in stor...

This fossilised dinosaur egg is from the Hadrosaur species, dating to the late Cretaceous Period (c. 85 - 65 millions years ago). Fossilised hadrosaur eggs and remains have been found in China, Europe, South America and North America. This example was excavated from the north of China and is one of several we bought back in the mid 1990s - it has been with us in the UK since then and has not previously been offered for sale.

The vast majority of ...

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 has since been in stor...

This interesting pottery tile was made during the Jin Dynasty (AD 1115 - 1234) and most likely comes from Shanxi province. It depicts a scene from the story of the Tian Brothers, one of the stories of the twenty-four paragons of filial piety:

In the Eastern Han dynasty, there were three brothers in the Tian family. After their father passed away, they turned against each other and split the assets, inc...

This interesting pottery tile was made during the Jin Dynasty (AD 1115 - 1234) and most likely comes from Shanxi province. It depicts a scene from the story of the Liu Yin, one of the stories of the twenty-four paragons of filial piety:  

Liu Yin lived in the Western Jin period. One winter when he was nine, his mother lost her appetite because she longed to eat jin, which was impossible to obtain in winter...

This attractive pottery model of a cloaked and hooded rider was made in the 6th Century during either the Eastern Wei Dynasty (AD 534 - 550) or the following Northern Qi Dynasty (AD 550 - 577). Pottery horses from this period have a distinct style different to the more common and later Tang Dynasty equivalents.

It has been made from a fine-grained grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in a creamy-white pigment with details pic...

This attractive pottery model of a cloaked and hooded rider was made in the 6th Century during either the Eastern Wei Dynasty (AD 534 - 550) or the following Northern Qi Dynasty (AD 550 - 577). Pottery horses from this period have a distinct style different to the more common and later Tang Dynasty equivalents.

It has been made from a fine-grained grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in a creamy-white pigment with details pic...

This attractive pottery model of a cloaked and hooded rider was made in the 6th Century during either the Eastern Wei Dynasty (AD 534 - 550) or the following Northern Qi Dynasty (AD 550 - 577). Pottery horses from this period have a distinct style different to the more common and later Tang Dynasty equivalents.

It has been made from a fine-grained grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in a creamy-white pigment with details pic...

This attractive pottery model of a saddled horse, or pony, was made during the early part of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is one of a group of four we acquired several years ago, all clearly from the same location. It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a reddish pottery. It has been "cold-painted" in a base coat of a creamy-white pigment with various other coloured pigments applied on top. Note especially the attention to de...

This rare and interesting pottery model of a pack horse, or pony, was made during the Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386 - 534). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" with a base coat of white pigment on top of which has been applied black pigment. Note the detail of the pack on its back that includes two water containers and a rabbit.

Height 25.5 cm, length 29.5 cm. It is in good condition. There is s...

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 that is relatively highly-fired. The horse stands alert with its head head up and turned to its left. Its legs are spaced as though in the act of walking, as opposed to standing upright and still, as are the majority of Tang Dynasty pottery horses. The surface has been "cold painted" in a cream...

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 t...