LARGE Chinese Warring States Impressed Pottery Jar with Oxford TL Test (475 - 221 BC)

This large and impressive pottery jar was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery and has a smooth surface with bands of lightly incised/burnished lines surrounding the shoulder and the upper body. Around its middle are two bands of impressed decoration...

Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Cocoon Jar (206 BC - AD 8)

This pottery "cocoon" jar was made over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a relatively highly-fired grey pottery and has been decorated by "cold painting" different coloured pigments in a design featuring cloud patterns within vertical bands...

Fine Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Cocoon Jar

This wonderfully-shaped pottery vessel, usually referred to as a "cocoon" jar was made over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8)...

Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Cocoon Jar

This wonderfully-shaped pottery vessel, usually referred to as a "cocoon" jar was made over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8)...

Chinese Han Dynasty Incised & Burnished Pottery Cocoon Jar

This wonderfully-shaped pottery jar was made during the early part of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8), or possibly the preceding Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC). This type of jar is usually referred to as a "cocoon jar" due to the shape of its body. Its original function was that of a grain storage jar. This particular example has a wide foot, neck and mouth compared to the size of its body...

Rare Chinese Sui Dynasty Glazed & Painted Pottery Horse & Rider (AD 581 - 618) (Ex. Roger Moss Collection)

This rare and finely-detailed model of a horse and rider was made during the Sui Dynasty. The horse stands upright with head straight ahead but slightly lowered. The dignitary sits upright upon the horse with his hands raised and wears elaborate robes and headgear. It is made from a relatively highly-fired buff-coloured pottery...

Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Horse (AD 618 - 906)

This pottery horse was made during the early part of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It stands upright with its head turned very slightly to its left. It is made from a buff-coloured pottery and is particularly "heavily-potted". Looking inside the body shows it was made in a two-piece mould. It has been "cold painted" in a base coat of a creamy-white pigment with details picked out in red and black pigments...

Very Rare Chinese Neolithic Qijia Culture Pottery Jar

This rare and unusual jar was made some 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Neolithic Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC), in the north of China, what is now eastern Gansu province. It is made from a gritty reddish pottery. The outer surface has the impressions made by the shaping tool and there are horizontal notched strips of clay applied to the lower body...

Lovely Neolithic jar with a single lug from the Qijia or Siwa Cultures circa 1500BCE. Please view the enlargements as this piece has a lot more going for it than it appears at first- 1# please note the bottom where you can see the impression of the woven mat where it was coiled and hand molded using a paddle, 2# the handle has four “ribs”, 3# circling the neck of the jar are a series of indentations made by a human fingernail and 4# the lower half has subtle incised diagonal lines...

Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Glazed Granary Jar with Cover

Although many different Han Dynasty granary jars are known, this example is quite rare. It was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) from a relatively high-fired red pottery, quite "heavily-potted", that has been glazed in two different colours. Mostly it is coated in an attractive amber coloured glaze...

Rare Large Chinese Tang Dynasty Pottery Ox / Bull (AD 618 - 906)

This rare and unusual pottery model of an ox, or bull, was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is made from a pale pinkish-coloured pottery that is quite highly-fired, having an almost "metallic" ring to it when tapped...

Fine Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Cocoon Jar

This pottery "cocoon" jar was made over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). The shape, named after its similarity to the silkworm cocoon, evolved during the late Warring States period (475 - 221 BC) and then generally died out by the middle of the Western Han...

Chinese Neolithic Twin-Handled Pottery Jar - Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC)

This attractively-shaped pottery jar was made around 4,000 years ago by peoples of the Neolithic Qijia Culture (c...

Chinese Neolithic Twin-Handled Pottery Jar - Qijia Culture (c. 2050 - 1700 BC)

This attractively-shaped 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. It is very thinly-potted and quite highly-fired, having an almost "metallic" ring to it when tapped. There are two "strap" handles joined at the waist and mouth edge. Much of the upper surface is coated with a thin layer of "calcified" s...

Fine Chinese Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Figure (AD 618 - 906)

This rare and interesting pottery figure was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). It is fairly highly-fired, having a distinct ring to it when tapped. It has been "cold painted" in white, red and black pigments, good amounts of which still remain. Note the details to the facial features, clothing and head gear. He stands as if in attendance awaiting instructions! On the surface in places, particularly to the back, are mi...

Rare Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Pottery Money Tree Base (AD 25 - 220)

This very rare and large moulded pottery object was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220). It is the base to a "money tree" and has been excavated from Sichuan province. The coin-shedding, or money tree is known from late Han Dynasty funerary art from the south-west of China. It was believed that if shaken, coins would fall from it. The money tree itself would comprise a bronze trunk, or pole, to which were at...

Very Rare Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Stone Toad Money Tree Base (AD 25 - 220)

This extremely rare toad-shaped pedestal, or base, for the legendary coin-shedding tree dates to the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and has been excavated from Sichuan province. The coin-shedding, or money, tree is known from late Han Dynasty funerary art from the south-west of China. It was believed that if shaken, coins would fall from it. The money tree itself would comprise a bronze trunk, or pole, to which...

Rare Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Pottery Money Tree Base (AD 25 - 220)

This very rare and unusual moulded pottery object was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220). It is the base to a "money tree" and has been excavated from Sichuan province. The coin-shedding, or money, tree is known from late Han Dynasty funerary art from the south-west of China. It was believed that if shaken, coins would fall from it. The money tree itself would comprise a bronze trunk, or pole, to which were...