Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Chinese: Pottery (38)

Neolithic/Bronze Age reddish clay, pottery jar from an unknown culture. I acquired this in a group of Chinese Neolithic pottery pieces but I can’t find any references to this being Chinese. I tend to think this from Thailand or some other Southeast Asian culture. Low fired with very good near invisible restoration. If you know what this is, drop me a line and let me know. D: 12cm/4.7in and H: 8.5cm/3.6in.

Nice old well worn Qing Dynasty Shekwan green and blue flambé glazed pillow. 19th century- very nice impressed floral scroll and coin pattern unglazed ends. L: 34cm/13.5in and W: 10cm/4in. Here is an “amusing” Youtube video on opium pillows and their history from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for your edification https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zOVd9LEabo&t=182s

Very rare pair of pottery bears. The meaning of bears of during Han Dynasty is somewhat enigmatic, as they are “everywhere” in their material culture i.e., bronze, jade and pottery, but what they signify remains unexplained. Usually they are depicted in a friendly almost cute Winnie the Pooh (ish) fashion, lacking in ferocity like dragons and tigers. Only during the Han did they reach such ubiquity. Both have an amber colored vitreous glaze and appeared to be mostly hand carved...

Lovely pottery small lead glazed stove from the Eastern Han Dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE). There is original flaw in one of the pots on top and a minor glaze chip on the upper edge but otherwise excellent condition with a lot of lead glazed silver paraffin patina on the whitish surface. See last enlargement for reference from He Li’s Chinese Ceramics. L: 25.cm/9.8in, W: 18.5m/7.2in and H: 9.5cm/3.8 in. Excellent example of how people cooked 2000 years ago in China.

Green lead glazed oil lamp or candle stand from the Han Dynasty. In excellent condition with no damage, there are still traces of the classic silver patina as may be seen in enlargements. H: 13.5cm/5.3in and D: 10.5cm/4.2in.

Magnificent pottery Ding. The long legs and “cockscomb” design where, the legs join the body, are in keeping with bronze vessels from the Zhou to Warring States period, which pottery pieces were trying to emulate. There are traces of a repetitive meandering impressed band below mid circumference. The body is thinly potted with very light gray clay and originally had a dark gray slip applied to the outside (the original gray slip is still intact in the cavity)...

Pair of large Han Dynasty “ear cups”- er’bei. These are have an outstanding rich green lead glaze, with paraffin patina and high relief wave pattern on the sides. Please note last two enlargements- there are two professional quality repairs. L: 13cm/5.1in, W: 12cm.5/4.8in and H: 4cm/1.6in.

Very rare pottery bowl and eclectic with Taoist imagery. This is made from a high fired light gray pottery, with traces of a white slip and depictions of musicians, dancers and “demon” masks. This is a funerary piece; the symbology suggests the transition from this world to the afterlife. D: 14cm/5.5in and H: 5.2cm/2in. No cracks original pigments with some kiln warpage

Lovely Neolithic jar with a single lug from the Qijia or Siwa Cultures circa 1500BCE...

Chinese Neolithic high fired, well potted jar with side lugs. Very good condition with original pigment and no repair- just some small chips on the mouthrim- please examine enlargements. Majiayao culture circa 3000BCE. D: 12cm/4.8in and H: 12cm/4.8in

Chinese burnished Neolithic bowl with side lugs, there is a repair on the edge noted in last enlargement and some of the black pigment in the design is not original. Majiayao culture circa 3000BCE. D: 12cm/4.8in and H: 6.8cm/2.6in.

Good large Ming sancai ceramic wedding bed. These were interred in tombs of wealthy individuals to serve them in the afterlife. Nowadays they burn paper replicas instead. This piece has ornate eves in green and amber glaze, no cracks but some minor fritting. It is a large and heavy piece so free international shipping is offered via surface mail, if you would like a faster service than the buyer will pay the additional costs. Personally I have always thought these were ancestor shrines...

Special Offer: reduced from $400 to $230. Quirky ensemble of 4 Ming Dynasty (plus one from the Tang Dynasty) sancai courtiers holding Rats, which in the Chinese Zodiac are considered the first of the signs with the attributes of spirit, wit, alertness, delicacy, flexibility and vitality. These all came from different sets and were intentionally aggregated by the original owner. See notes below enlargements for dimension and details.

Ming Dynasty Tudigong 土地公 Rare Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE) pottery image of the Taoist “folk” God, Tudi Gong. He is a very popular God and is considered a community guardian, which is why you will see his small shrines in rural villages and urban neighborhoods, venerated by common people. Literally he is an erath God (God of the soil)...

Special Offer- reduced from $350 to $250. Good Ming sancai (three colored glaze) horse, in excellent condition- some loss to black pigment on mane and tail but glaze is 100% intact and no fritting and no chips or cracks to the body. H: 26cm/10.2in and W: 30cm/11.8in.

Lovely ceramic amber and green sancai glaze fish offering from the Ming Dynasty. These were put on small pottery altar tables and interred with ancestor to provide for them in the afterlife. Good condition. This one is quite small D: 3.8cm/1.7in. A clever bunny good glue a pin on the bottom and use it as a brooch.

Ensemble of four Ming sancai glazed chickens used as ancestral offerings. The large green one has had its head broken and glued back on, otherwise all are in good condition. Heights are between 11cm and 6cm.

Lovely ceramic amber and green sancai glaze fish offering from the Ming Dynasty. These were put on small pottery altar tables and interred with ancestor to provide for them in the afterlife. Good condition , no damage. L: 10cm/4.9in.