Rare Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Decorated Glazed Jar

This very rare and unusual pottery jar was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220). It is made from a red pottery and very attractively decorated in both green and amber glazes. The green glaze has a matt finish whereas the amber glaze is mostly glossy, although its colour and appearance does vary in places according to its thickness and, probably, uneven conditions in the kiln during firing. Additional decoration is provided by...

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...

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...

Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Covered Box - Kangxi (Ex.Christie's)

This fine quality blue & white porcelain covered box was made during the Kangxi reign (1662 - 1722) of the Qing Dynasty. Both cover and box are attractively decorated with floral patterns in underglaze blue of good colour.

It is large example of its type with a diameter of 10.25 cm (4 inches). This box has been excavated from a shipwreck. It was sold at Christie's auction house, London, in February 2000. It is in good c...

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...

Fine Large Chinese Warring States Pottery Jar (475 - 221 BC)

This attractively-shaped pottery jar was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). It is made from a fine-grained grey pottery, relatively highly-fired, having a distinct ring to it when tapped. It has a flat base and the lower body has lightly incised lines around it. At the waist and above are several ridges and bands, within which are burnished lines forming geometric patterns. There is a depression around the botto...

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 Warring States Painted Pottery Jug

This very rare pottery vessel was made during the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC). It is "heavily-potted" with a sturdy handle and the mouth fashioned to form a pouring lip. It was originally painted with diagonal lines in white and orange-brown pigments, although only faint traces of this now remains. Note the round protrusion to the inner surface where the handle is joined to the body. To the flat base there appears to be a moulded sym...

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).

It is made from a buff-coloured pottery and is of globular form standing on an integral foot. The upper part of the jar has been decorated with incised lotus leaf panels each containing a tree pattern. Above these is an incised geometric pattern surrounding the mouth. To the lower ...

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 incised lines, on the jar forming lotus leaf panels. Some of the lines on both the...

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...

Pair Chinese Ming Dynasty Painted Pottery Tile - Ox / Moon

This fine pair of pottery tiles was made during the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368 - 1644). They are made of a dense grey pottery and have been painted in black pigment. Each tile features, in high relief and in good detail, a recumbent long-horned ox, or cow, looking up at the moon. Mounted and lit well, these tiles make superb decorative items. 

The total length when both tiles are placed together is 52.5 cm (20.5 inches), height 25.5 ...