Tall Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Lady Rider (41cm)

This impressive pottery model of a horse & female rider was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is "heavily-potted" and made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" in various different coloured pigments. The horse stands alert with its head turned a little to its left, the lady sits upright with one hand resting on her tummy. Note the detail of the horse's mane on its left side...

Tall Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Sichuan Pottery Farmer (AD 25 - 220)

This tall pottery figure was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and has been excavated from Sichuan province. It is made from a reddish pottery and is highly detailed. Such figures are usually referred to as farmers, although during this period Sichuan farmers were also called upon by their masters to become soldiers when required...

Rare Tall Chinese Six Dynasties Painted Pottery Warrior (AD 220 - 589)

This very rare and interesting pottery figure of a warrior was made during the Six Dynasties period (AD 220 - 589). It is solid (as opposed to being hollow as are most ancient Chinese pottery figures) and made from a dense pottery that has been painted in red, pink, black and white pigments, very good traces of which still remain. The figure stands to attention with hands clasped across his chest...

Rare Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Bowl with Spoon

This rare pottery bowl with spoon was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). Both are made from a fairly high-fired grey pottery and quite "heavily-potted" with the inner surfaces cold-painted in red pigment. The bowl has a "rolled" rim with incised bands surrounding the body just below the rim. There is a recessed circular area in the centre of the bowl...

Rare Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Ladle / Bowl

This rare pottery vessel was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is a large handled-bowl, or ladle. It is made from a fairly high-fired grey pottery with the inner surface cold-painted in red pigment. There is a recessed circular area in its centre.

Length 19.5 cm. It is in very good condition with no sign of restoration or repair...

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 relatively highly-fired grey pottery. The body stands on three sturdy integral feet. On opposite sides at the waist are two square-cut handles. Both cover and body have been decorated with cold-painted brown and creamy-white pigments. On top of the dome-shaped cover are three equally-spaced protrusions...

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 relatively highly-fired grey pottery. The body stands on three sturdy integral feet. On opposite sides at the waist are two square-cut handles. The cover has been decorated with cold-painted brown and creamy-white pigments. On top of the dome-shaped cover are three equally-spaced protrusions...

Tall Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Vase / Jar (Feng Ping)

This attractively-shaped pottery jar was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is relatively highly-fired and has been made from flat slabs of pottery that have been luted together in imitation of an archaic bronze vessel. Its form is unique to the Western Han period and is known as a "feng ping". It still retains its original cover...

Tall Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Vase / Jar (Feng Ping)

This attractively-shaped pottery jar was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is relatively highly-fired and has been made from flat slabs of pottery that have been luted together in imitation of an archaic bronze vessel. Its form is unique to the Western Han period and is known as a "feng ping". It still retains its original cover...

Chinese Western Han Dynasty Incised & Burnished Pottery Cocoon Jar

This wonderfully-shaped pottery jar was made during the early part of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8), or possibly the preceding Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC). This type of jar is usually referred to as a "cocoon jar" due to the shape of its body. Its original function was that of a grain storage jar. This particular example is "heavily-potted" and has a wide foot, neck and mouth compared to the size of its body. Decora...

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. The elaborate painted geometric patterns cov...

Rare Chinese Northern Zhou Dynasty Painted Pottery Armoured Horse & Rider

This very rare pottery model of an armoured horse & rider was made during the short-lived Northern Zhou Dynasty (AD 557 - 581). It would originally have formed part of procession of similar horses. It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a pale grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in a base coat of white pigment with reddish-brown and pink pigments applied on top. The rider is made from solid pottery and in his...

Fine Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Female Courtier ("Fat Lady") with Oxford TL Test - AD 618 - 906

Arguably the most desirable pottery sculpture from the Tang Dynasty is the female courtier, or "fat lady". This figure was made around the mid 8th century and is a particularly elegant example. The lady stands with her hands clasped together under her flowing robe and her head turned a little to the left. Note also the elaborate hairstyle. It is relatively highly-fired and made from a bu...

Fine Chinese Western Han Dynasty Pottery Ding Tripod with Oxford TL Test

This fine-quality pottery vessel, complete with its original cover, was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery and quite highly-fired, both vessel and cover each having a distinct ring when tapped. This vessel, a ding, has sturdy square-cut handles and stands on three feet. The cover has a raised circular band on its top allowing it to be turned upside-down and u...

Fine Chinese Western Han Dynasty Pottery Ding Tripod (206 BC - AD 8)

This fine-quality pottery vessel, complete with its original cover, was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery and quite highly-fired, both vessel and cover each having a distinct ring when tapped. This vessel, a ding, has sturdy square-cut handles and stands on three feet. The cover has a raised circular band on its top allowing it to be turned upside-down and used ...

Fine Chinese Western Han Dynasty Round Pottery Box (206 BC - AD 8)

This fine-quality round pottery box, complete with original cover, was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery and quite highly-fired, both box and cover having a distinct ring when tapped. The design of this box is very simple yet also elegant and pleasing to the eye. Its purpose was that of a food container.

This is quite a large vessel with a diameter of 20.5 cm ...

Fine Chinese Western Han Dynasty Round Pottery Box (206 BC - AD 8)

This fine-quality round pottery box, complete with original cover, was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery and quite highly-fired, both box and cover having a distinct ring when tapped. The design of this box is very simple yet also elegant and pleasing to the eye. Its purpose was that of a food container.

This is quite a large vessel with a diameter of 20.5 cm ...

Fine Large Chinese Qin / Han Dynasty Burnished Pottery Cocoon Jar

This wonderfully-shaped pottery jar was made during the early part of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8) or possibly as early as the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC). This type of jar is often referred to as a "cocoon jar" due to the shape of its body. 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 Wester...