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 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...

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...

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 & 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). It is made from a buff-coloured pottery that has been "cold painted" in a base coat of a creamy-white pigment on top of which are yellow and black pigments. The horse stands upright with its head turned to its left. Note the detail of the rider's clothing. Judging by the position of the rider and the two purp...

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...

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. Around the shoulder on top of the darker pattern are slightly...

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. The colour of the underglaze bl...

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 Large Chinese Yuan Dynasty Underglazed Zodiac Jar

This large and extremely rare stoneware jar of very attractive form was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) or possibly the early part of the following Ming Dynasty, most likely at one of the kilns in Yuxi, Yunnan province. It is "heavily-potted" and has been decorated in an underglazed pattern of twelve panels each featuring one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. It is coated in a clear and finely-crackled pale green...

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...

Very Rare Large Chinese Yuan Dynasty Blue & White Granary Jar & Cover (with Oxford TL Test)

This extremely rare jar, complete with original cover, was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). Although we have seen several jars of a generally similar form (usually attributed to the earlier Song Dynasty) we have never before seen a jar of this form with underglaze cobalt blue decoration. It is most likely a product of one of the kilns at Yuxi in Yunnan province, one of the earliest place...

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...

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 ...

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 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...

Fine Korean Koryo Dynasty Bronze Bowl, Spoon & Chopsticks

This fine, high quality bronze bowl and utensils were made during the Koryo Dynasty (AD 918 - 1392) but more specifically during the 13th century. The wall of the bowl is particularly thin as it was made by the spinning technique as opposed to having been cast (see below for more information). The foot of the bowl has been made separately and is joined by two rivets. Originally its surface would have been brightly polished but it has,...

Large Chinese Song / Yuan Dynasty Incised Pottery Buddhist Jar

This rare pottery jar was made in the 12th / 13th century during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279), or possibly the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) and has been been excavated from a Buddhist site in Yunnan province.

It is made from a buff-coloured pottery and is of globular form standing on an integral foot. Both cover and jar are decorated with bands of incised parallel lines, on the jar forming lotus leaf shapes. Some of the...