Large Chinese Ming Dynasty Painted Pottery Tile - Bird in Flight

This rare and unusual pottery tile was made during the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368 - 1644). It is made from a grey pottery and is particularly "heavily-potted". It features, in high relief, a bird in flight. Note the detail to the bird's feathers. It has been cold-painted in red and white pigments. Cloud patterns have been inscribed into the flat background...

Large Chinese Ming Dynasty Stoneware Jar with Spout

This unusual jar was made during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). Apart from the short spout at the shoulder, it is a conventionally-shaped storage jar. The outer surface and inner mouth are coated in a black glaze. The glaze falls just short of the bottom of the jar leaving the concave base unglazed. Likewise, the inner surface also remains unglazed.

This is quite large jar with a height of 22.25cm, diameter 20.5 cm...

Chinese Ming Dynasty Celadon Glazed Porcelain "Bullet" Jar

This porcelain jar was made during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). It is very "heavily-potted": jars of this type are known as "bullet" jars due to their shape. They were made at kilns in Guangdong province as well as, possibly, other kiln sites. Many were exported and this type of jar can be found throughout South-east Asia, widely used for containers of salt and other foodstuffs and liquids...

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...

Ancient Chinese Buddhist Pottery Amulet - Ming Dynasty

This is one of a group of moulded pottery tablets that we bought about twenty years ago. They are made from a relatively high-fired pottery and have a surprising amount of detail. They were made as amulets and votive offerings and were reported to have been excavated from the foundations of an ancient Buddhist temple, where originally many would have been placed to ensure the success of the temple...

Ancient Chinese Buddhist Pottery Amulet - Ming Dynasty

This is one of a group of moulded pottery tablets that we bought about twenty years ago. They are made from a relatively high-fired pottery and have a surprising amount of detail, including the sun and the moon in this example...

Ancient Chinese Buddhist Pottery Amulet - Ming Dynasty

This is one of a group of moulded pottery tablets that we bought about twenty years ago. They are made from a relatively high-fired pottery and have a surprising amount of detail. They were made as amulets and votive offerings and were reported to have been excavated from the foundations of an ancient Buddhist temple, where originally many would have been placed to ensure the success of the temple...

Ancient Chinese Buddhist Pottery Amulet - Ming Dynasty

This is one of a group of moulded pottery tablets that we bought about twenty years ago. They are made from a relatively high-fired pottery and have a surprising amount of detail. They were made as amulets and votive offerings and were reported to have been excavated from the foundations of an ancient Buddhist temple, where originally many would have been placed to ensure the success of the temple...

Ancient Chinese Buddhist Pottery Amulet - Ming Dynasty

This is one of a group of moulded pottery tablets that we bought about twenty years ago. They are made from a relatively high-fired pottery and have a surprising amount of detail. They were made as amulets and votive offerings and were reported to have been excavated from the foundations of an ancient Buddhist temple, where originally many would have been placed to ensure the success of the temple...

Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Kraak Porcelain Dish (20.5cm / 8")

This highly decorative and attractive "Kraak" porcelain dish was made at the Jingdezhen kilns during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty. The pattern, in underglaze blue of good colour, features in its centre a winged insect amongst various plants and blossoms. Surrounding this are eight roundels containing, alternately, peach blossoms and precious objects...

Rare Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Porcelain Bowl - Dragons & Fish

This rare and unusual "Swatow" (or "Zhangzhou") blue & white porcelain bowl was made during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1573 - 1620). The underglaze blue decoration around the outer wall features two dragons. The inner design features four fish around the inner wall and aquatic (?) plants in its centre. It is coated in a thick glaze...

Ancient Chinese Buddhist Pottery Amulet - Ming Dynasty

This is one of a group of moulded pottery tablets that we bought about twenty years ago. They are made from a relatively high-fired pottery and have a surprising amount of detail. They were made as amulets and votive offerings and were reported to have been excavated from the foundations of an ancient Buddhist temple, where originally many would have been placed to ensure the success of the temple. We find it quite difficult to date thes...

Ancient Chinese Buddhist Pottery Amulet - Ming Dynasty

This is one of a group of moulded pottery tablets that we bought about twenty years ago. They are made from a relatively high-fired pottery and have a surprising amount of detail. They were made as amulets and votive offerings and were reported to have been excavated from the foundations of an ancient Buddhist temple, where originally many would have been placed to ensure the success of the temple. We find it quite difficult to date thes...

Ancient Chinese Buddhist Pottery Amulet - Ming Dynasty

This is one of a group of moulded pottery tablets that we bought about twenty years ago. They are made from a relatively high-fired pottery and have a surprising amount of detail, including the sun and the moon in this example. They were made as amulets and votive offerings and were reported to have been excavated from the foundations of an ancient Buddhist temple, where originally many would have been placed to ensure the success of the...

A pair joss-stick holders with Buddhist lions standing on a leave-shaped base and a single one with wooden stand. Made of biscuit porcelain and glazed in the "sancai" palette. Dating to the Kangxi period (1662-1722). Condition: the balls of the male lions are lost, both with small restorations, the bulging eyes of the beasts with glue residues, one lion with small flake on the tail. Dimension: pair height: c. 10.1 cm, single one: c. 15.5 cm high.

The bowl is decorated inside with ducks and enamel plants in the style of the "Famille Verte" we find the colors fired at low temperature aubergine, green, some very rare touches of blue and the fragile iron red, detail in gold. The outlines of the subjects are either black or red. The circles are in underglaze cobalt blue fired higth fire. The white backgrounds are decorated with a secret decoration of plants, incised before firing in the clay, it is difficult to see, one of the photos suggests...

Ancient Chinese Buddhist Pottery Amulet - Ming Dynasty

This is one of a group of moulded pottery tablets that we bought about twenty years ago. They are made from a relatively high-fired pottery and have a surprising amount of detail. They were made as amulets and votive offerings and were reported to have been excavated from the foundations of an ancient Buddhist temple, where originally many would have been placed to ensure the success of the temple. We find it quite difficult to date thes...

Ancient Chinese Buddhist Pottery Amulet - Ming Dynasty

This is one of a group of moulded pottery tablets that we bought about twenty years ago. They are made from a relatively high-fired pottery and have a surprising amount of detail. They were made as amulets and votive offerings and were reported to have been excavated from the foundations of an ancient Buddhist temple, where originally many would have been placed to ensure the success of the temple. We find it quite difficult to date thes...