Chinese Han Dynasty Bronze Kettle with Bird-shaped Spout - Tiao-tou

This bronze vessel, or "tiao-tou" (a bronze heating vessel used by soldiers) was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220). Its round body is supported by three feet. On top is a wide opening covered by a flat hinged lid that has a small bronze ring handle. The pouring spout is in the form of a bird. At ninety degrees to the spout, at the side of the vessel, is a metal handle with a socket into which originally would hav...

Rare Tall Chinese Tang Dynasty Stoneware Dragon Jar

This very rare and unusual stoneware vessel was made during the latter part of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from an unglazed reddish-grey stoneware and has a cylindrical body with a narrow neck that flares out into a cup-shaped mouth. It has been elaborately decorated: at its waist are two "skirts" that surround the body above which are many appliqués in the form of birds and what appear to be snakes or serpents. Above these...

Rare Chinese Song Dynasty Inscribed Qingbai Porcelain Granary Jar

This rare and unusual porcelain model of a granary was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279). It is quite "heavily-potted" and coated in a thick qingbai type of glaze. The body has a cut-out window in its side and it surmounted by a representation of a tiled roof. Its most interesting feature, however, is the incised decoration. The surface of the body has been separated, by incised lines, into four panels. Three of the...

Fine Tall Chinese Han Dynasty Pottery Dancing Lady

This impressive pottery figure was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220). It is made from quite a high-fired pottery and represents a dancing lady. Note her "movement", details of her robes and her friendly face. Her right hand is held up in the air whilst here left clutches at her skirts as she dances.

Over the years, a whole variety of entertainers and musicians of all sizes and of this general type have been found in Sichuan p...

Rare Chinese Northern Zhou Dynasty Painted Pottery Armoured Horse & Rider

This very rare pottery model of an armoured horse & rider was made during the short-lived Northern Zhou Dynasty (AD 557 - 581). It would originally have formed part of procession of similar horses. It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a pale grey pottery that has been "cold painted" in a base coat of white pigment with reddish-brown and pink pigments applied on top. The rider is made from solid pottery and in his...

Chinese Yuan Dynasty Black Pottery Lady (AD 1279 - 1368)

This fine pottery figure of a female servant or attendant was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). She wears a long robe and has hands together as though presenting a small vessel or possible foodstuff. Note especially the details of the facial features.

Height 25 cm. It is in very good condition with no sign of restoration or repair.

This figure has been in a private English collection for some twenty years having or...

Rare Chinese Song Dynasty Glazed Pottery Figure

This very rare pottery figure was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279). The figure, depicted wearing robes and headgear, represents an official. It is made from a high-fired buff-coloured pottery and coated in finely-crackled three colour glossy glazes over, in places, a white slip.

Height 26 cm. It is in exceptional condition. There is no sign of repair to the pottery, as is confirmed by looking inside the hollow body. although the...

Rare Chinese Song Dynasty Glazed Pottery Figure

This very rare pottery model of a seated figure, reported to have come from Sichuan province, was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279). It is quite highly-fired and made from a red pottery that has been coated in white slip on top of which has been applied a transparent glaze with splashes of amber glaze in places. The figure itself seems slightly emaciated under his volumous robes and possibly represents a monk.

Height 19.5 cm (7.5...

Rare Chinese Song Dynasty Glazed Pottery Figure

This very rare pottery figure was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279). The figure stands upright wearing a hooded robe and has his hands clasped across his chest. It is made from a fairly highly-fired orange-coloured pottery and coated in finely-crackled three colour glossy glazes under, in places, a white slip.

Height 25.75 cm. It is in exceptional condition with no sign of repair to the pottery, as is confirmed by looking inside ...

A Rare Pair of Export Famille Rose Candlesticks. After a European silver shape decorated with floral sprays. Qianlong C1760-75. Height; 8 1/4" (21.0 cm). Condition; excellent, some wear to the gilding

Rare Chinese Song Dynasty Glazed Pottery Figure

This very rare pottery figure was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279). The figure, depicted wearing robes and headgear, represents an official. It is made from a fairly highly-fired orange-coloured pottery and coated in finely-crackled three colour glazes.

Height 26.75 cm. There is no sign of repair to the pottery, as is confirmed by looking inside the hollow body, but there is some touching-up to the glaze in places, presumably wh...

Chinese Tang Dynasty Glazed Pottery Groom Figure

This pottery figure was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is "heavily-potted" and made from a high-fired creamy-coloured pottery. The body has been coated in a finely-crackled golden-amber glaze, the colour of which varies slightly according to its thickness. In places the glaze has acquired a silvery-golden iridescence resulting from its long burial in damp conditions. This figure represents that of a foreign groom. Note especia...

Chinese Tang Dynasty Glazed Pottery Groom Figure

This pottery figure was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is "heavily-potted" and made from a high-fired creamy-coloured pottery. The body has been coated in a finely-crackled amber glaze, the colour of which varies according to its thickness. This figure represents that of a foreign groom: note the clothing and the hairstyle.

Height 26.5 cm. It is in very good condition. There is a firing crack to the base, clearly a result...

An Unusually Large Killotaya. The lime container hinged and in two halves of round flattened form. The copper body with brass mounts. Sri Lanka 18/19thC. Length excluding chain; 6 1/2" (16.5 cm). Width; 4 3/4" (12.2 cm). Condition; excellent but with one of the teeth on the clasp missing. This is a very large good quality Killotaya. Used for holding powdered lime for mixing with sliced areca nut for betel chewing.

A Chinese Blanc de Chine figure of Budai. The seated figure with a jovial expression holding a sceptre in one hand and leaning against his cloth sack. Kangxi 1622-1722. Height; 3 1/2" (8.8 cm). Condition; chip to base at rear and a firing flaw to head of sceptre with some staining. See Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden No. PO 8568 for a similar figure

A Chinese Wood censer. Of straight sided rectangular form, raised on four feet. Chinese 18thC. Length; 4 3/4" (12.0 cm). The censer has been used without the original protective metal liner which is lacking Resulting in attractive worn charing

A Porcelain Water Dropper. Well modelled in the form of Shoulao seated on a reclining deer. Chinese C1730-40. Height; 2 11/16' (6.9 cm). Condition; excellent

Carved chair back with stylized dragons, flowers, and the "Hundred Antiquities" motif. Exquisitely detailed carving. The lacquered wood is of unusual quality; indeed, this type of Chinese lacquered furniture is generally of poor quality, both in terms of the wood and the carving, the lacquer compensating for the mediocrity of the wood. However, here, in areas where the lacquer is worn, the beautiful color and grain of the wood are visible, reminiscent of Huang-Hualy, suggesting a high-quality pi...