Fine Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Rider (206 BC - AD 8)

This fine and attractive pottery horse and rider was made over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a grey pottery, quite "heavily-potted", that has been "cold painted" in a base coat of creamy-white pigment with the details picked out in various coloured pigments. The horse stands alert, head facing forward, the rider sitting in the act of holding the reins to the horse. The pa...

Fine Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse & Rider (206 BC - AD 8)

This fine and attractive pottery horse and rider was made over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a dark grey pottery, quite "heavily-potted", that has been "cold painted" in a base coat of creamy-white pigment with the details mostly picked out in red and black pigments although there are also traces of pink and green pigments in places. The horse stands alert, head facing fo...

DESCRIPTION: An extraordinary Chinese tray, its rectangular form crafted from one slab of huanghuali wood that has been skillfully hollowed to expose the beautiful grain and form the graceful, curved edges. This elegant tray highlights the incredible beauty of this favored Chinese wood and virtually shimmers in the light. Excellent condition with a nice weight to it; from a private collection. DIMENSIONS: 13 1/2" wide (34.2 cm) x 9" deep (22.8 cm).

DESCRIPTION: A finely carved celadon nephrite jade plaque, one side depicting a child attendant with crane holding a large fan over the head of an immortal. Three lines of raised calligraphy are on the reverse. Excellent condition, late 19th or early 20th century, Qing Dynasty. DIMENSIONS: 2" long (5 cm) x 1 3/4" wide (7 cm).

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Kraak Porcelain Dish - Bird

This porcelain dish was made during the latter part of the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620). The underglaze blue features a bird in a landscape in the centre panel, surrounded by alternating precious objects and peach sprays. The underside is more simply decorated with dots separated into eight panels. The rim is slightly flared and the rim edge is foliated. As is common with kraak porcelain, there is minor "fritting" of the glaze a...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Kraak Porcelain Dish - Birds (21 cm)

This fine and very attractive blue & white porcelain dish of good size, and with a foliated rim, was made during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty. The decoration is particularly fine and the underglaze blue is of very good colour. The pattern features in its centre two birds, one standing on a rock within a garden, the other in flight. Around the cavetto are ten roundels containing peach blossoms, le...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Kraak Porcelain Dish - Wanli

This very attractive "Kraak" porcelain dish was made at the Jingdezhen kilns during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty. The pattern, in underglaze blue of good colour, features in its centre a tasselled double-gourd vase and an artemesia leaf (one of the "eight treasures"). Surrounding this are ten roundels containing peaches and flower blossoms. The underside is more simply decorated with basic floral patter...

Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Porcelain Bowl - 15th Century (Ex. Grahame Clarke collection)

This attractive blue & white porcelain bowl was made c. 1470 - 1490. It is quite heavily-potted and coated in a crackled glaze. It is decorated in underglaze blue with a floral pattern on the outer wall and a character inside, with various blue bands. The recessed foot is unglazed. Diameter 10 cm. No repair or restoration. Fine condition.

For information: this is from the collection of the lat...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Porcelain Bowl - Bird

This very attractive porcelain bowl was made during the second half of the 16th century, c.1570 - 1590. The outer wall is very nicely decorated in underglaze blue, the pattern featuring a bird within a floral landscape. A flower blossom within two rings decorates the inside centre. To the base is a four-character mark (not translated).

Diameter 12.5 cm. This bowl is in fine condition. There is the most insignificant "fritting" ...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Porcelain Brush Washer

This attractive small porcelain jar, a brush washer, was made during the late 15th to early 16th century. It is relatively heavily-potted and decorated in underglaze blue of very good colour with a pattern featuring scrolling lotus blossoms. Both inner and outer surfaces are coated in a thick glaze. The foot and recessed flat base remain unglazed.

Diameter 6.75 cm. A fine example in fine condition. No repair or restoration. ...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Porcelain Dish - Peonies

This fine and very attractive blue & white porcelain dish was made in the early 17th Century during the Tianqi (1621 - 1627) or the Chongzhen (1628 - 1644) reign. The decoration in underglaze blue features an elaborate peony spray with a geometric trellis pattern around the rim. The peony is the emblem of Spring and represents wealth, love, honour, affection and feminine beauty.

The underside is much more simply decorated wi...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Porcelain Jar

This fine small porcelain jar was made during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty, or possibly a little earlier. It is finely decorated in underglaze blue with a pattern featuring blossoming branches, the pattern having a dark outline.

Height 9 cm. No repair or restoration; fine condition.

The collection number on the paper label to the base is that of the late Grahame Clarke, master potter, who originally bought this...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Tianqi Porcelain Dish - Ko-sometsuke

This fine and rare blue & white porcelain dish was made during the Tianqii reign (1621 - 1627) of the Ming Dynasty. It was made specifically for export to Japan (a ko-sometsuke dish for use in the tea ceremony).

Firing conditions have resulted in it being rather dark in colour with the underglaze cobalt blue firing more to black than blue. It has a striking and unusual pattern featuring a deer, a crane in flight ...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Tianqi Porcelain Dish - Roosters

This fine and rare blue & white porcelain was made during the Tianqii reign (1621 - 1627) of the Ming Dynasty. The unusual pattern features two roosters standing among tall blossoming plants. Around the inner rim is a wave pattern. The underside is simply decorated with just two thin blue bands. This dish does actually have some characteristics of "kraak" porcelain of the period, "chatter" marks and kiln grit embedded wi...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Painted Pottery Bird Tile - Crane

This decorative pottery tile was made during the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368 - 1644). It is made from a grey pottery, quite highly-fired, that has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments. The tile features, in high relief and highly detailed, a crane holding in its beak a lotus blossom.

The crane represents longevity and in Chinese legends is second only to the phoenix.

This is quite a large tile: length of longest side 3...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Painted Pottery Bird Tile - Crane

This decorative pottery tile was made during the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368 - 1644). It is made from a grey pottery, quite highly-fired, that has been "cold painted" in various coloured pigments. The tile features, in high relief and highly detailed, a crane holding in its beak a lotus blossom.

The crane represents longevity and in Chinese legends is second only to the phoenix.

This is quite a large tile: length of longest side 3...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Painted Pottery Mandarin Tile

This attractive and very detailed pottery tile depicting a mandarin (Chinese official) was made during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). It is made from a dense grey pottery. The mandarin wears a flowing robe, belted across his waist, with his badge of rank in the centre of his chest. In his left hand is what appears to be a hu (audience tablet) and in his right hand an object upon which appears to be a small animal. Note also the mandari...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Painted Pottery Mandarin Tile

This attractive and very detailed pottery tile depicting a mandarin (Chinese official) was made during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). It is made from a dense grey pottery. The mandarin wears a flowing robe, belted across his waist, with his badge of rank in the centre of his chest. In his right hand is what appears to be a hu (audience tablet) and in his left hand an object upon which is a small animal. Note also the mandarin's hat and...