Fine Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Cocoon Jar

This pottery "cocoon" jar was made over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). 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...

Fine Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Cocoon Jar

This wonderfully-shaped pottery vessel, usually referred to as a "cocoon" jar was made over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8)...

Fine Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Covered Box

This attractively-painted pottery box, complete with its cover, was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a relatively highly-fired grey pottery (box & cover have a ring when tapped) that has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments, very good traces of which still remain. The scrolling design seems to be a mixture of cloud and, possibly, zoomorphic patterns...

Fine Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Ding Tripod

This pottery tripod vessel, or "ding", was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a grey pottery, relatively highly-fired, both body and cover having a distinct ring when tapped. The body stands on three sturdy integral feet. On opposite sides at the waist are two square-cut handles. The top of the cover has a protruding ring that allows it to be turned upside-down and used as a bowl...

Fine Chinese Han Dynasty Pottery Amphora (20.5cm / 8")

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 some archaeologists to be anthropomorphic, with the shape and "swirling" design of the main body based on the female human form...

Fine Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Rider (206 BC - AD 8)

This fine and attractive pottery horse and rider was made over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a grey pottery, quite "heavily-potted", that has been "cold painted" in a base coat of creamy-white pigment with the details picked out in red, pink, brown and black pigments...

Fine Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Rider (206 BC - AD 8)

This fine and attractive pottery horse and rider was made over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a grey pottery, quite "heavily-potted", that has been "cold painted" in a base coat of creamy-white pigment with the details picked out in various coloured pigments. The horse stands alert, head facing forward, the rider sitting in the act of holding the reins to the horse...

Fine Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Rider (206 BC - AD 8)

This fine and attractive pottery horse and rider was made over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a dark grey pottery, quite "heavily-potted", that has been "cold painted" in a base coat of creamy-white pigment with the details mostly picked out in red and black pigments although there are also traces of pink and green pigments in places...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Painted Pottery Mandarin Tile

This attractive and very detailed pottery tile depicting a mandarin (Chinese official) was made during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). It is made from a dense grey pottery. The mandarin wears a flowing robe, belted across his waist, with his badge of rank in the centre of his chest. In his left hand is what appears to be a hu (audience tablet) and in his right hand an object upon which appears to be a small animal...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Painted Pottery Mandarin Tile

This attractive and very detailed pottery tile depicting a mandarin (Chinese official) was made during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). It is made from a dense grey pottery. The mandarin wears a flowing robe, belted across his waist, with his badge of rank in the centre of his chest. In his right hand is what appears to be a hu (audience tablet) and in his left hand an object upon which is a small animal...

Fine Chinese Neolithic Machang Painted Pottery Jar

This attractive 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 a particularly fine example of its type, quite thinly-potted and highly-fired, made from a pale yellowish-brown pottery, the colour of which varies in places due to uneven conditions during firing...

Fine Chinese Neolithic Machang Phase Painted Pottery Jar (c. 2300 - 2000 BC)

This very attractive 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 made from a pale yellowish-brown pottery and is fairly highly-fired that has undoubtedly contributed greatly to its survival in such good condition...

Fine Chinese Neolithic Pottery Jar - Caiyuan Culture (c...

Fine Chinese Neolithic Siwa Culture Burnished Black Pottery Jar (c. 1350 BC)

This fine and rare pottery vessel was made over 3,000 years ago by peoples of the Siwa Culture (c.1350 BC) from present day Gansu or Qinghai province. It is quite "heavily-potted" with high handles, a saddle-shaped mouth and a wide body. Pottery jars from the Siwa culture are rarer than those of the preceding Qijia and Majiayao cultures and most known examples are made from an orange or buff coloured pottery. Blac...

Fine Chinese Neolithic Xiajiadian Culture Burnished Pottery Li Tripod

This superb and rare tall pottery vessel was made some 4,000 years ago by people of the Xiajiadian culture (c. 2300 - 1600 BC) from Inner Mongolia. The form of this vessel is characteristic of this Neolithic culture with its wide rim, partly hollow udder-shaped legs and carefully constructed body. The surface of the body above the legs, and the inner mouth, have a finely burnished surface, its smoothness making it a real p...

Fine & Rare Chinese Northern Dynasties Painted Pottery Kneeling Camel with Oxford TL Test

This fine and very rare pottery model of a kneeling camel, laden with saddle bags, was made during the Eastern Wei Dynasty (AD 534 - 550) or the following Northern Qi Dynasty (AD 550 - 577). It is made from a pale greyish-brown pottery that is fairly highly-fired. It has been "cold painted" in a base coat of a creamy-white pigment with details picked out in brown, red and black pigments. The camel is i...

Fine Chinese Tang Dynasty Horse & "Fat Man" Rider with Oxford TL Test

This fine pottery model of a horse and rider was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). Sitting on the horse is a male courtier, often referred to as a "fat man", the male equivalent of the "fat lady"; note the clothing and hairstyle. It is made from a relatively high-fired buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments.

Height 31 cm. There is no obvious sign of repair, as is conf...

Fine Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Camel with Oxford TL Test

This fine pottery model of a camel, laden with saddle bags, was made during the early Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906) or possibly a little earlier. It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" in a white pigment. The camel stands upright and alert with its mouth open and its head turned to its left. On its back is a set of saddle bags that include a blanket, ducks and what appears to be a rabbit.

Thi...