Chinese Yuan Dynasty Russet Glazed Jar (AD 1279 - 1368)

This small and "heavily-potted" jar was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). Both inner and outer surfaces are coated in a thick russet-coloured glaze that has an almost "silvery" sheen to it.

Diameter 10 cm (4 inches). This jar is in very good condition...

Rare Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Decorated Glazed Jar

This very rare and unusual pottery jar was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220). It is made from a red pottery and very attractively decorated in both green and amber glazes. The green glaze has a matt finish whereas the amber glaze is mostly glossy, although its colour and appearance does vary in places according to its thickness and, probably, uneven conditions in the kiln during firing...

Large Chinese Yuan Dynasty Blue & White Jar with Oxford TL Test

Rarely offered for sale, this large early "blue & white" jar was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). It has a wide body as well as a wide mouth. Around the shoulder, painted in underglaze cobalt blue, are three stylised Dogs of Fo and beribboned spiralling objects. Below this the body is decorated with scrolling floral and leaf patterns with a band of large lotus leaves toward the base...

Chinese Han Dynasty Black Pottery Amphora

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)...

Tall Chinese Han Dynasty Amber Glazed Pottery Hu Jar

This large pottery jar (or "hu") of fine form was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220). It has been coated with a greenish-amber glaze that covers the whole of the outer surface and the inside of the mouth. The slightly concave flat base remains unglazed. There are many decorative ridges and bands that surround the jar and on opposing sides at the waist are two moulded taotie ring handles...

Rare Chinese Ming Dynasty Monochrome Blue Porcelain Box

This rare porcelain box was made during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) in the mid to late 16th century. The outer surface is coated in a dark blue glaze whilst the inner surface is coated in a white glaze. To the base are thick globules of crawled blue glaze.

Diameter 8.5 cm...

Large Chinese Yuan Dynasty Cizhou Stoneware Jar

This wonderfully-shaped jar was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368), at one of the kilns in northern China where Cizhou wares were produced during the 11th - 14th centuries. It is heavily-potted with the outer surface coated in a white slip and decorated in underglaze iron-brown. The decoration comprises various bands that surround the body and a variety of floral patterns...

Rare Chinese Tang Dynasty Stoneware Jar with Cover

This "heavily-potted" stoneware jar, complete with its original cover, was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). Like most Tang jars, its form is particularly pleasing. The finely-crackled transparent pale olive-green glaze is quite "streaky" and coats around the upper three-quarters of the outer surface, as well as the cover. The lower body remains unglazed showing the white stoneware body...

Chinese Warring States Bronze Axe Head

This bronze axe head dates approximately to the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). Inside are remains of its wooden shaft. Length 16 cm (6.25 inches). Unfortunately it has been broken in two and re-stuck.

For information: this axe head is part of a modest yet very interesting private English collection of Chinese antiquities acquired during the 1990s that we recently acquired...

Large Chinese Warring States Impressed Pottery Jar (475 - 221 BC)

This large and attractive pottery jar was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). It is made from a relatively high-fired dense grey pottery. The whole of the surface of the upper body has been decorated by impressing cord into the soft clay and then incising horizontal bands as the jar was turned; a simple yet very effective method of decoration.

Height 30 cm, diameter 28 cm. Condition is very good...

Tall Chinese Warring States / Qin Dynasty Grey Pottery Jar

This large and attractively-shaped pottery jar was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC) or possibly during the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC). It is "heavily-potted" and made from a relatively high-fired dense grey pottery. It is decorated with two wide bands of repeated impressions that surround the upper and lower shoulder...

Fine & Rare Chinese Northern Wei Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Rider

This rare and attractive pottery model of a horse & rider was made during the Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386 - 534)...

Fine Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Rider

This attractive pottery model of a horse & rider was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a relatively highly-fired 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 riders sits erect with his hands held out as though holding the reins. Note the clothing of the rider, especially the head covering.

Height 35 cm (13...

Fine Chinese Tang Dynasty Saddled Horse with Oxford TL Test

This fine-quality pottery model of a horse was made during the early part of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a relatively highly-fired pale-coloured pottery, varying from a pale grey to a pinkish-brown in colour (this colour variation is often seen with earthenware that is more highly-fired than other pieces). It has been "cold-painted" in various coloured pigments. The two pigments that have survived the most are t...

Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Amber Glazed Pottery Stove

This pottery model of a stove was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220). It is made from a reddish pottery and coated in a thick and attractive amber glaze. It has been made from moulded sections that have been luted together. There are three integral cooking pots with moulded decoration including fish, geometric patterns and a kneeling female figure with a pot. To the underside unglazed surface is a network of ancient root/p...

Rare Large Chinese Han Dynasty Bronze Xian (Published)

This exceptionally large and rare bronze xian (steamer) was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220) and actually comprises three separate vessels that combine to form the xian. The middle section sits within the lower section, and on top sits the upper section, the part that has the grill in its base to allow steam to enter the vessel. Each section is decorated with raised bands and a pair of taotie ring handles. The surfaces are c...

A Fine Chinese Tang Dynasty Sancai Glazed Pottery Groom with Oxford TL Test

This very fine pottery model of a foreign groom was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a highly-fired white pottery that has been coated in different coloured glazes, as well as the facial features being finished in cold-painted coloured pigments. The figure has a beard and moustache and wears a flowing cloak with distinctive head gear. His right arm is raised as though holding the reigns of...

Rare Tall Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Decorated Glazed Jar

This attractively-shaped pottery jar was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and comes from Shaanxi province in the northwest of China. It is made from a red pottery, quite heavily potted, has a wide body, narrow neck and trumpet-shaped mouth. Simple decorative incised lines surround the neck and shoulder. The outer surface and inner mouth have been coated in an amber-coloured glaze with green glaze added in places to f...