Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Early "Blue & White" Vase

This rare pear-shaped vase or bottle was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) by one of the kilns at Yuxi county in Yunnan province, one of the first places in the world where blue & white ware was produced. It is "heavily-potted" and decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with floral and leaf designs. It is coated with a clear glaze that falls short of the heavy irregularly cut foot...

Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Early "Blue & White" Underglazed Jar (Ex. Grahame Clarke Collection)

This rare jar was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) by one of the kilns at Yuxi county in Yunnan province, one of the first places in the world where blue & white ware was produced. Similar wares were first unearthed in 1973 in Lufeng County, Yunnan Province although, surprisingly, such wares are still relatively unknown to western collectors...

Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Burnished Black Pottery Meiping

We have recently been lucky enough to have acquired a collection of very rare examples of burnished black pottery items made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). Such items are relatively unknown and very little has been published about them. They are found in the northern provinces, particularly Gansu province in the north-west.

This vase, or bottle is of meiping form...

Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Burnished Black Pottery Groom Figure (32.5cm)

This impressive and attractive pottery figure 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 such Yuan figures is typically fired to grey, or almost black, and sometimes, as in this case, burnished to a smooth finish.

This figure represents a groom or possibly a merchant...

Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Burnished Black Pottery Bowl

We have recently been lucky enough to have acquired a collection of very rare examples of burnished black pottery items made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). Such items are relatively unknown and very little has been published about them. They are found in the northern provinces, particularly Gansu province in the north-west.

This bowl is fairly thinly-potted and has a flared rim and quite a sturdy foot. Diameter 12.25 cm...

Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Black Pottery Horse

This small and attractive pottery model of a horse was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a black pottery with a smooth burnished surface. Note the detail to its mane. Pottery horses from the Yuan dynasty are much rarer than those from other periods.

Height 17 cm, length 20 cm...

A unique piece of zitan wood used as a sample for the scholar's woodworker. This piece is unusual as it shows a very light color of the zitan wood which is probably close to the bark area. There are two holes drilled in the piece for attaching a string for hanging. This piece weighs 550 grams. This is a great item for the zitan collector. Size: L.17.3cm. W.10.3cm. H.2.4cm. Condition: No repairs.

Qing Dynasty opium den lamp made with burner bowl. This style lamp was used to illuminate Chinese opium dens and was often their only source of lighting. These lamps were also used to heat the opium tar housed at the end of a long opium pipes. The burner bowl is stoneware with the inside glazed to hold the oil and wick (wick is new). The base for the burner is made of split bamboo. Opium lamps made of wood are extremely hard to find...

A rare wooden Buddha in a seated position on a lotus pedestal. The face is serenely contemplative and the robe is carved to show the gathered folds. Wooden Buddhas from this period are very difficult to find. This Buddha has a natural, calming presence.

Period: Yuan/Ming or earlier

Size: Height = 31 cm., Width at base = 18 cm.

Condition: The wood has shrinkage and cracks from age. The right ear and fingers of the left hand are missing...

An unusual and rare unique Han white stone pendant with various colors in the stone, carved in a most interesting way. There are two old beads with the stone,the red one Ming and the other Tang. Age: Han Dynasty - 206BC - 220 AD. Size: L. 4cm. W. 3cm. Condition: Very good. No repairs or cracks.

A beautiful rare etched paitong basin depicting court ladies playing chess in the center. Around the inside of the basin there are scenes of scholars, artists, falconer etc. Around the inside edge is etched the "shou" characters representing good luck and fortune. Size: Diameter: 42.5cm. Condition: No repairs. A small casting crack on the inside that does not go all the way through.

Rare Chinese Western Zhou Dynasty Bronze Chariot Bell

This rare and interesting bronze bell was made during the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 1100 - 771 BC). It would have originally been fitted to a horse-drawn chariot, ringing constantly as the chariot went along...

Rare Chinese Western Han Dynasty Small Bronze Ding

This bronze tripod vessel (ding) was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). The vessel stands on three simple short legs and has two sturdy handles on opposing sides. The vessel is holed in places and has fairly heavy corrosion, mostly azurite (blue), but also malachite (green) and cuprite (brown). Across the base is the mould casting line. Diameter 13.25 cm...

Rare Chinese Western Han Dynasty Iron Chisel / Axe Head (206 BC - AD 8)

This iron axe head or chisel dates to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). Surviving iron objects of this age are very rare. This example does of course have rust and corrosion, and a small chip to the edge of the open end. It is free from restoration or repair. Length 15.5 cm (6 inches).  Please note that this object has not been treated in any way and should be handled carefully.

This is one of two almost ide...

Rare Chinese Western Han Dynasty Iron Chisel / Axe Head (206 BC - AD 8)

This iron axe head or chisel dates to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). Surviving iron objects of this age are very rare. This example does of course have rust and corrosion, there is a small part missing at the open end together with some cracks, but it is free from restoration or repair. Length 15.5 cm (6 inches). Please note that this object has not been treated in any way and should be handled carefully - a s...

Rare Chinese Western Han Dynasty Bronze Cauldron / Jar

This domestic bronze cooking vessel was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8) or possibly earlier. The bottom half is semi-spherical, designed to sit in a fire; indeed there are still remains of carbon deposits to the base. It has two handles that are of differing sizes. It is puzzling that it would have been made with different sized handles, although there is no obvious sign that either have been added later. There is an ...

Rare Chinese Western Han Dynasty Bronze Cauldron / Jar

This domestic bronze cooking vessel was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8) or possibly earlier. It has two handles on opposing sides of the shoulder. It is quite "heavily-cast" and the casting lines are quite pronounced, especially across the flat base. There is some corrosion, mostly to the base where it comprises mostly malachite (green) and azurite (blue). There are also black carbon deposits on the surface in places,...

Rare Chinese Warring States / Western Han Glazed Stoneware Jar

This rare and unusual jar dates to the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC) or possibly the early part of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from high-fired grey stoneware of the type sometimes called "proto-porcelain". The glaze, a dark green ash glaze, is quite patchy and its thickness varies. The shoulder and waist are decorated with bands of lightly incised wavy parallel lines. The body is wide and it has a c...