Fine & Rare Chinese Neolithic Pottery Owl Jar / Ewer - Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC)

This rare and interesting pottery vessel was made by peoples of the Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC). Such vessels are sometimes called "owl" jars. It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a reddish-grey pottery. The "top" of the vessel has woven impressions, most likely made when this piece of clay was being formed, resting on a woven mat, prior to being luted to the top of the ewer...

Very Rare Chinese Neolithic Decorated Pottery Jar - Banshan Phase

This very rare and interesting pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago during the Banshan Phase of the Majiayao culture (c. 2600 - 2300 BC) , from present day Gansu province. Banshan pottery is usually recognised as being finely burnished and elaborately painted, but more unusual vessels such as this were also made and are sometimes found alongside the painted vessels...

Very Rare Chinese Neolithic Twin-Necked Pottery Jar - Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC)

This very unusual and extremely rare pottery jar was made around 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Neolithic Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC), from what is now eastern Gansu province, China. Potters of the Qijia culture made a whole variety of vessels, the most well-known being the twin-handled cups and cord-impressed jars, of which we have examples for sale...

Tall Chinese Neolithic Qijia Culture Pottery Jar / Vase

This tall and attractively-shaped pottery vessel was made around 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Qijia Culture in present-day Gansu or Qinghai province, China dating from c. 2050 - 1700 BC. It is made from quite a high-fired pottery the colour of which varies in places due to uneven conditions during its firing. The lower surface has been decorated with repeated impressed vertical lines...

Classic green glazed Han Dynasty grain storage silo. This item has been repaired (by me), please examine enlargements for condition. This has an excellent lead glazed silver patina and well executed little bears for legs. H: 27cm/10.6in and D: 20cm/7.9in (at the roof).

Green mottled glazed censer with classic little bears as legs, some loss of glaze in the back noted in enlargements and a few chips on the mouth rim and legs. D: 21cm/8.2in and H: 13.2cm/5.2in.

Fine & Very Rare Unusual Chinese Han Dynasty 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)...

Fine & Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Black Pottery Male Groom Figure

This fine pottery figure was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). It is made from a dark grey/black pottery that is quite highly-fired. The figure represents a young male groom. He wears a long-sleeved robe and stands with his right arm across his chest, his left arm and hand extended...

Fine & Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Black Pottery Male Groom Figure

This fine pottery figure was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). It is made from a dark grey/black pottery that is quite highly-fired. The figure represents a young male groom. He wears a long-sleeved robe and stands with his left arm across his chest, his right arm and hand extended as though holding something, possible the reins of a horse...

Fine Large Chinese Neolithic Banshan Phase Painted Pottery Jar - (Ex. Christie's 1997)

This large pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago during the 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 made from a pale reddish pottery that is quite thinly potted with a smooth burnished surface and is relatively highly-fired...

FINE & Rare Chinese Neolithic Machang Painted Pottery Jar

This fine pottery jar of an unusual 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 is quite highly-fired, thinly-potted and very well-proportioned. It has a wide globular body with a small flat base, a fairly short neck and flared mouth...

Very Rare Chinese Neolithic Painted Pottery Jar - Machang

This 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 fairly high-fired pale pottery and is of a very unusual and rare form with its wide body, small unflared mouth, no handles and four pairs of purpose-made holes around its shoulder...

Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Female Courtier (“Fat Lady”)

Arguably the most desirable pottery sculpture from the Tang Dynasty is the female courtier, or "fat lady". This figure was made around the 8th century and is a particularly elegant example...

Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Female Courtier (“Fat Lady”)

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. It is relatively highly-fired and made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" with a base coat of white pigment on top of which have been applied other coloured pigments, mostly orange. This lady is of a rather "matronly" appearance and stands with he...

Fine Tall Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery "Stick" Figure

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 pale grey pottery. It has been "cold painted" with a pink/brown flesh-coloured pigment. Note the detail of the facial features and the hairstyle, worn with a top knot.

Various types of "stick" figures have been excavated, altho...

Fine Tall Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Lokapala Guardian Figure

This fine and very impressive lokapala (guardian) was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from high-fired red pottery that has been "cold-painted" in a base coat of a creamy-white pigment with many other coloured pigments painted on top (red, orange, green, black).

This is a particularly fine and detailed example - note the protrusions around the head, shoulders and waist (flames?). The armoured ...

Fine Tall Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery "Stick" Girl

This fine and rare painted pottery figure of a nude girl was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8), more specifically, the 2nd century BC. It is one of a variety of Han Dynasty "stick" figures. The vast majority of "stick" figures represent males; female figures are particularly rare. It is made from a dense fine-grained grey pottery that has been "cold painted" after firing in a pale brown / flesh-coloured pi...

Tall Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Stick Figure

This tall and impressive pottery "stick" figure was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220), more specifically, the 2nd century BC. It is "heavily-potted" and made from a dense fine-grained pottery that has been "cold painted" with a base coat of white pigment on top of which has been painted red and pink pigments with the facial features picked-out in black. This figure has a moustache, short beard and a top knot to the hair.