Large Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Sheep Jar

This large and unusual pottery vessel in the form of a recumbent ram was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220). It has a thick cylindrical neck on its back quite a wide opening. Possible this vessel was used as base for the pole of a banner or screen support. Traces of the original "cold painted" coloured pigments can be seen.

Length 41 cm (16 inches), height 18.5 cm (7.25 inches). Overall condition is good; there is some loss o...

Large Chinese Neolithic Machang Phase Painted Pottery Jar - Liuwan Type

This large 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 relatively highly-fired and made from a pale yellowish-brown pottery. It has an unusually small neck compared to its large body size. As usual with this type of large Machang jar, on opposing sides just below ...

Chinese Eastern Zhou Cord-Impressed Pottery Jar (770 - 221 BC)

This fine pottery jar was made during the Eastern Zhou period (770 - 221 BC). It is made from a relatively highly-fired fine grey pottery. It has a round base that has been decorated with cord impressions that are particularly crisp. On opposing sides of the shoulder are small square-cut handles. The neck is slightly ridged for additional decoration and it has a flared mouth. 

Height 18.5 cm (7.25 inches). Condition is very ...

Large Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Sichuan Pottery Figure - Female Cook

This large and impressive pottery model was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and excavated from Sichuan province. It is a model of a kneeling female figure holding in one hand a knife, and in the other a fish that lays on a chopping board. It is made from a particularly red pottery that is relatively low-fired. A variety of figures of this general type, some small, some large, excavated from Sichuan prov...

Large Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Sichuan Pottery Figure - Musician

This large and impressive pottery model of a musician was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and excavated from Sichuan province. A variety of figures of this general type excavated from Sichuan province are known. They are often musicians and entertainers, and were made in a variety of sizes, this particular example being of the larger type.

This figure wears a robe with wide sleeves and is kneeling in th...

Large Chinese Warring States Painted Pottery Jug

This very rare pottery vessel was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). It is "heavily-potted" with a sturdy handle and the mouth fashioned to form a pouring lip. It was originally painted with diagonal lines in white and orange-brown pigments, although only faint traces of this now remains. Note the round protrusion to the inner surface where the handle is joined to the body. To the flat base there appears to be a moulded sym...

Rare Chinese Western Zhou Dynasty Bronze Chariot Bell

This rare and interesting bronze bell was made during the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 1100 - 771 BC). It would have originally been fitted to a horse-drawn chariot, ringing constantly as the chariot went along. It still has its bronze ball inside the bell section so shaking it will make the same sound that was heard some 3,000 years ago! The surface has corroded due to long burial and there are extensive malachite deposits.

Height 13 cm ...

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

This attractively-shaped pottery jar was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery, relatively highly-fired, having a distinct ring to it when tapped. It has a flat base and the lower body has lightly incised lines around it. At the waist and above are several ridges and bands, within which are burnished lines forming geometric patterns. There is a depression around the botto...

Tall Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery "Stick" Figure with Oxford TL Test

This tall and impressive pottery "stick" figure was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8), more specifically, the 2nd century BC. It is "heavily-potted" and made from a dense fine-grained pottery that is relatively highly-fired. It has been "cold painted" with a pink/brown flesh-coloured pigment on top of which the facial features have been picked-out in black and red pigments. These figures were made...

Fine LARGE Chinese Neolithic Painted Pottery Jar - Machang (Liuwan type) with Oxford TL Test

This large and impressive 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 "heavily-potted" and relatively highly-fired. This jar has a wide body with two sturdy loop handles on opposing sides at its waist. The flat base has some impressions in it...

Large Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Pottery Pig / Boar (AD 25 - 220)

This pottery model of a pig was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and has been excavated from Sichuan province. It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a red pottery. It has its snout close to the ground, clearly sniffing for truffles, and a moulded curly tail ! To the rear of the underside is a large firing hole.

This is a large example with a length of 36 cm (14 inches). Condition is very good; the...

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. Additional decoration is provided by...

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

This particular example w...

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. To part of the glaze on the lower body an...

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. Although the inside of the mouth is also co...

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.

*** TO ORDER THIS ITEM PLEASE EMAIL US QUOTING OUR STOCK NUMBER (...

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. There a...

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. There are also fainter decorative impressions that partially surround the body at the waist.

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