Large Chinese Neolithic Xindian Jar Zoomorphic Patterns + TL Test

This large and extremely rare pottery jar was made by peoples of the Neolithic Xindian culture (c. 1200 - 500 BC). The Xindian culture is a relatively late Neolithic culture and overlaps with the Chinese Bronze Age. This jar is of the Tangwang type and is not quite as coarse in its construction as some other Xindian vessels. It is quite "heavily-potted" with two loop handles on opposing sides at the waist. The colour of the body ranges from a pale yellow to dark grey, this due to uneven conditions in the Neolithic kiln.

The pattern, seemingly applied almost carelessly, features bands of geometric designs interspersed with zoomorphic representations, most likely birds and snakes, applied in two different colour fired-on mineral-based pigments.

This is a substantial jar with a height of 37.5 cm (14.75 inches) and a weight of 5kg (11 lbs). There is some surface wear, a small repaired hole (less than 1cm diameter) at the shoulder and part of the vulnerable mouth is repaired. Overall though, a very rare larger example of later Chinese Neolithic pottery in very good condition.

As with many of our finer and rarer items, in 2009 we had this jar tested by Oxford Authentications, the only testers of ancient pottery accepted by all major dealers, auction rooms and museums worldwide, and we show the Thermoluminescence Analysis Report test certificate that will accompany this jar. 

For information we show examples of similar Xindian jars from the highly informative book "The Archaeology of Ancient China" by Kwang-chih Chang.

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