This superbly-shaped pottery jar was made some 2,000 years ago during the Early Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8) or possibly the earlier Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC). The shape, named after its similarity to the silkworm cocoon, evolved during the late Warring States period (475 - 221 BC) and then generally died out by the middle of the Western Han. They were used to contain grain for use in the afterlife and several examples are known with remains of grain still inside (indeed, we have such an example in stock ourselves).

This is a magnificent example, of good size, well balanced and perfectly proportioned. It is constructed of a fine-grained grey pottery, the surface of which has been made very smooth by burnishing, making it a delight to touch as well as to view. The body is decorated with twelve sets of triple-incised lines encircling the body vertically. The neck and base also decorated with banded lines. There are traces of red pigment around the neck and inside the mouth.

Height 32.5 cm, length 34 cm. A superb example in fine condition; truely exceptional and certainly of museum quality.

Provenance: from the Michael Goedhuis Collection/Gallery sold at Bonhams, London.

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