Rare Large Chinese Han Dynasty Burnished Pottery Amphora (206 BC- AD 220)

A superbly conceived design; jars of this general type have been found in excavations dating as far back as the Spring and Autumn Period (770-475 BC). Although perhaps not obviously Chinese in design, this type of vessel is one of the most iconic forms of Han Dynasty pottery and is thought by many archaeologists to be anthropomorphic, with the shape and "swirling" design of the main body based on the female human form....

Rare Large Chinese Han Dynasty Glazed Granary with Cover

This large and impressive pottery vessel was made some 2,000 years ago during the latter part of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8), the short-lived Xin Dynasty (AD 9 - 25) or the early Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220). It is very similar to other large amber-glazed granaries excavated from a tomb in Xi'an dated to the Xin Dynasty (AD 9 - 25).

This vessel is a granary and its top part represents a two-tiered tiled roof. It ...

Rare Large Chinese Han Dynasty Incised & Painted Pottery Dish

This dish was made over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery, quite "heavily-potted" and relatively highly-fired, having a distinct ring when tapped. Its flat base is fairly small compared to its overall diameter. The lower body is of a shallow cone shape with a flat wall and rim above. To the inner surface are good remains of the original geometric and cloud p...

Rare Large Chinese Han Dynasty Pottery Dog with Oxford TL Test

This pottery model of a dog was made some 2,000 years ago, during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220) and has been excavated from Sichuan province. It is made from a relatively high-fired grey pottery. All such pottery dogs from Sichuan tend to wear a harness and this is no exception. However, whereas most other examples can look rather fierce with their mouths open showing their teeth, this example appears more "friendly" with its...

A very Rare example of a Han dynasty Chinese large tomb pottery figure of a horse, gray clay with traces of white and red slip pigment, tail and ears are separate pieces, wonderful example of Han Dynasty tomb sculpture with very stylized geometric shaped features, great whimsical expression with open mouth.

Comes with TL (thermal luminescence) test dating to Han Dynasty 206 B.C. -220 A.D.

Dimensions of horse: 49" high x 40" long x 12" deep Dimensions on custom museum meta...

An exceptionally and very rare beautiful and unusual stem bowl with a thick black glaze and decorative bands painted in an iron rust color. There is one boldly etched (scraffiato) large flower with leaves. The background of the flower is in an iron rust glaze accentuating the floral spray. The thick glaze has formed large black beads at the rim of the bowl.The Jin Dynasty was founded by the Wanyan clan of the Jurchen people, the ancestors of the Manchu people who established the Qing dynasty s...

Rare Large Chinese Ming Dynasty Swatow Porcelain Incised Celadon Dish - Flying Horses

This large and rare porcelain dish, of the type known as "Swatow" ware, was made during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty at the Zhangzhou kilns in Fujian province where many such wares were made for export around South-east Asia. More specifically, this dish was very likely produced at one of the kilns in Pinghe County, possibly at Wuzhai village where very similar incised celadon dishes ar...

A very rare large four scene Ming jar (1368 - 1644 AD) with three panels depicting the three friends and an additional panel of a small animal, the moon and a mountain scene. Size: H. 56cm. W. 38cm. Condition: No repairs. Some loss of the glaze around the rim. "For his residence, earth was piled to form a hill and a hundred plum trees, which along with lofty pines and tall bamboo comprise the friends of winter, were planted."

Rare Large Chinese Neolithic Machang Phase Painted Pottery Jar

This unusually-shaped large pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago during the Machang Phase (c.2300 - 2000 BC) of the Majiayao culture, also known as the Gansu-Yangshao culture, from present day Gansu or Qinghai province. It is relatively highly-fired and made from a pale yellowish-brown pottery. It has a fairly wide flat base, wide body and tall cylindrical neck. There is one loop handle joined at the shoulder and neck base, ...

Rare Large Chinese Neolithic Pottery Jar - Caiyuan Culture

This fine and attractively-shaped pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Caiyuan Culture (c. 2600 - 2200 BC) and has been excavated from the Ningxia Autonomous Region in the north of China. It is finely-potted with a wide body that tapers down to a relatively small base and one handle from the shoulder to the flared mouth. The upper surface has been burnished smooth. 

Height 29 cm (11.5 inches), diameter 27 ...

Rare Large Chinese Neolithic Xindian Culture Pottery Jar

This very rare pottery jar was made around 3,000 years ago 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. Xindian pottery is rarer and generally much less refined, more coarse and brittle than pottery from some earlier Chinese Neolithic cultures. Like many Xindian jars, this example is quite "thinly-potted" and shows "...

Fine & Very Rare Large Chinese Early Northern Wei Dynasty Glazed Pottery Armoured War Horse & Rider (with Oxford TL Test)

Surely among the rarest and most desirable of ancient Chinese pottery horses are the large glazed equestrians from Shanxi province dating to the early Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386 - 534). This is one such example. It is made from a relatively high-fired buff-coloured pottery that has been coated in a finely-crackled amber coloured glaze, save for the flat base that remain...

Large rare Bronze statue of Quanyin (the Goddess of Mercy). She wears an ornate necklace and has a ball-like "Nyoi Jewel" in her right hand representing enlightenment . There is an image of Buddha beneath the veil on her head. In her left hand she is holding her ambrosia bottle (kalasa)representing "The Water of Compassion. She is sitting on a lotus base and at the back of the base is the stylized inscription of Xuande,1426 to 1435 AD. Size: H. 49cm. W. At the base 31cm. Condition: Nice Patina. ...

Rare Large Chinese Song Dynasty Stoneware Granary Jar & Cover (AD 960 -1279)

This rare and unusual stoneware jar, complete with its original elaborate cover, was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279). Both cover and jar have architectural elements; they represent a granary with a tiled roof. In addition to the applied "pie crust" and tiled roof decoration there are also incised patterns on the surface in places.

Both jar & cover are coated in a finely-crackled golden-brown glaze,...

Rare Large Chinese Song / Yuan Dynasty Qingbai Porcelain Bottle / Vase - Lotus Flowers

This porcelain vase was made during the 13th - 14th century, during the latter part of the Song Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368), or possibly the following Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). It is unusually large for its type and its moulded decoration is very interesting: between bands of geometric patterns, are four lotus flowers in various stages of blooming. The outer surface and inner mouth are coated in a finely...

Rare Large Chinese Song / Yuan Dynasty Glazed Buddhist Zodiac Jar

This very rare pottery jar was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279), or possibly the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) and has been been excavated from a Buddhist site in Yunnan province.

It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been coated in a green glaze that is very thin in places.

Around the waist of the jar have been applied twelve mouldings, the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. The upper body...

Rare Large Chinese Southern Dynasties Stoneware Jar

This rare stoneware jar was made during the Southern Dynasties period (AD 420 - 589). Such wares from this period are relatively rare and quite distinctive. This jar has a flat base, a wide mouth and a series of "square-cut" loop handles placed around the shoulder: a pair of single handles opposite each other as well as a pair of double handles opposite each other. In between the handles there are two finely-incised lines that surround the ...

Rare Large Chinese Tang Dynasty Bronze Bowl

This large bronze bowl was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is quite thin, made by the spinning technique as opposed to having been cast (see below for more information). It has a convex base. Around the inner surface there are several double bands of incised lines. There are also bands of lightly incised lines to the outer surface below the rim although this mostly obscured by the corrosion. There is malachite corrosion to the surf...