HAN DYNASTY

Details

A Sichuan burnished black pottery jar
Han Dynasty
Each side carved with two spirals issuing from the base of the broad strap handles, surrounded by finely hatchured bands on the faceted neck, below the rim formed on both sides by an angular spout, some restoration
33.4 cm. high

Special notice

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Lot Essay

A similar jar in the British Museum is illustrated by S.J. Vainker, Chinese Pottery and Porcelain, New York, 1991, p.43, fig. 30, where the author notes that this type of jar is known as Lifan, after the area of Sichuan province in which they have been found, and that the shape occured as early as the Neolithic cultures of Machang (c. 3000-2500 BC) and Xindian (c. 1500 BC). The amphorae of this type that have been published are dated Warring States or Han dynasty.

The dating of this lot is consistent with the result of the Oxford authentication Ltd thermoluminescence test no. C101e97.

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