Very rare pair of pottery bears. The meaning of bears of during Han Dynasty is somewhat enigmatic, as they are “everywhere” in their material culture i.e., bronze, jade and pottery, but what they signify remains unexplained. Usually they are depicted in a friendly almost cute Winnie the Pooh (ish) fashion, lacking in ferocity like dragons and tigers. Only during the Han did they reach such ubiquity. Both have an amber colored vitreous glaze and appeared to be mostly hand carved. Ther...

TALL Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Sichuan Pottery Farmer (81cm / 32")

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. As well as holding a long-handled spade in one hand and a winnowing tray in th...

Tall Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Sichuan Pottery Female Figure (Water Carrier) with Oxford TL Test

This fine tall pottery figure was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220). A whole variety of pottery figures of varying sizes of this general type comprising farmers, musicians, domestic servants etc. are known and have been excavated from Sichuan province. This is a large example and is made from a pale yellowish-grey pottery, with the head made separately that fits into the hollow ...

TALL Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Sichuan Pottery Farmer with Shield

This tall pottery figure was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and has been excavated from Sichuan province. 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. This figure holds in his left hand a long sword, and in his right hand a shield. There is also a short knife attached to his belt. He wea...

Rare image of a Qilin Chinese "unicorn" with stunning deep aquamarine Qingbai glaze. This is a fragment of a much larger piece, possibly a finial off a censer. H: 9.5cm/3.9in, W: 7cm/2.8in x 4.5cm/1.8in. The sculpture is in excellent condition, there is a film of hardpacked soil in the crevices which can be (see enlargements), this can be removed with a small blade with a bit of effort, soaking it in water for a week or so will help. I am leaving it on as it speaks to the age of this piece....

Chinese Northern Qi Dynasty Painted Pottery Figure (AD 550 - 577)

This rare and unusual painted pottery figure was made during the Northern Qi Dynasty (AD 550 - 577). It is made from a relatively highly-fired grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments, traces of which still remain. Note the details of the clothing, the headgear, both tied with a bow, and the facial features. Where the hands are clasped together under the cloak is a purpose-made hole where original...

Eclectic collection of 11 ground slate stone “arrowheads” circa 3000 BCE-1900 BCE. The artifacts correspond to the Longshan Culture or a concurrent culture. See enlargements for scale and condition.

Large Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Camel with Oxford TL Test

This unusually large and impressive pottery model of a Bactrian camel was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is heavily-potted and made from a fairly high-fired buff-coloured pottery. In places on the surface are firing cracks, likely due to the thickness of the pottery. The surface has been cold-painted in a yellow-ochre coloured pigment on top of which have been painted reddish-brown and black pigments for th...

Fine TALL Chinese Tang Dynasty White Pottery Guardian Figure with Oxford TL Test  

This undeniably impressive pottery figure of a guardian was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a fairly high-fired creamy-white pottery with traces of yellow, red and black "cold painted" pigments to the surface. He stands upon a rock, head turned slightly, with his hands out. Note the clothing and head gear: an armoured jacket secured with straps over his shoulder and a belt at he ...

Fine TALL Pair Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Lokapala Figures with Oxford TL Test  

This fine and impressive matching pair of pottery lokapala figures was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). They are "heavily-potted" and made from a reddish pottery that have been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments. On the surface in places there still remain traces of gold leaf. Note the exquisite detail of their clothing and hairstyle. They have clenched fists with ferocious facia...

Tall Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Female Attendant Figure   

This tall and impressive pottery figure was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a dense grey pottery, the head made separately to the body. Both head and body have been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments, traces of which still remain. The figure represents a female attendant and she wears long flowing robes. The head has two small vertical slots where originally would have been so...

Good dark soy brown glazed ovoid jar Tang Dynasty from a northern kiln, nice size- H: 12.5cm/5in and D: 16.5cm6.5in. Some kiln flaws i.e., bubble pops and minor chip on side- please examine enlargements.

Large Chinese Neolithic Machang Painted Pottery Jar (Ex. Christie's)

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 a well-made jar of fine form and good proportions. At the waist of its wide body are two sturdy loop handles. At the top of its wide body is quite a narrow neck with a flared mouth.

It is quite highly-fired ...

Large Chinese Neolithic Machang Painted Pottery Bowl / Jar

This pottery bowl, or 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 more highly-fired than most known examples. It has a wide body with a flared rim. There are two small loop handles on opposing sides. The upper body and inner mouth have ...

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. The surface is very smooth ...

Very Rare Chinese Neolithic Machang Painted Pottery Jar

This pottery jar of a very rare form 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 has an unusually tall neck for its general type that is not quite centred to the wide body. At its mouth is a flared rim with two loop handles on opposing sides. It is quite thinly-potted and highly-fired, made fro...

Rare Chinese Neolithic Machang / Banshan Painted Pottery Jar

This unusual pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago during the Machang Phase (c. 2300 - 2000 BC), or possibly the earlier Banshan Phase (c.2600 - 2300 BC) of the Majiayao culture, also known as the Gansu-Yangshao culture, from present day Gansu or Qinghai province. It is quite thinly-potted and highly-fired, made from a pale yellowish-brown pottery. Joining the shoulder of the wide body to the flared mouth edge are two loop hand...

Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Groom Figure

This interesting pottery model of a groom was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a fairly high-fired grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in white, red, pink and black pigments. The figure wears a long garment and a head covering. He stands with his left hand outstretched as if holding the reigns of a horse (see our last image for an illustration of this). There are purp...