Pair Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Granaries with ORIGINAL GRAIN

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 Han Dynasty granary jars are known, but what makes this pair unusual is the high amount of original pigment that remains on the surface, covering almost the complete surface of both jars. They have been cold-painted with a base coat of a creamy-white pigment with the decoration comprising geometric and architectural elements painted on top in pale green, brown and black pigments.

But, not only this: one of the jars is around half full of its original contents, grain from over two thousand years ago! It appears to be millet and is so fine it turns to dust when touched. We have photographed just a small amount of its contents.

The height of each jar is 25 cm (10 inches). These are exceptional examples in fine condition with no repair or restoration.

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