A very rare large Chinese pottery cocoon / listening jar, Qi...

Hammer

£750

A very rare large Chinese pottery cocoon / listening jar, Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC) or possibly Warring States period (475-221 BC), with Oxford TL Test, the outer surface of the body is decorated with repeated cord or woven impressions with vertical bands then being made around the body whilst the clay remained soft, on the top of the body is a sturdy short neck with a circular mouth, body 52cm long, 44.5cm high

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A very rare large Chinese pottery cocoon / listening jar, Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC) or possibly Warring States period (475-221 BC), with Oxford TL Test, the outer surface of the body is decorated with repeated cord or woven impressions with vertical bands then being made around the body whilst the clay remained soft, on the top of the body is a sturdy short neck with a circular mouth, body 52cm long, 44.5cm high
This jar was originally made with no base or foot, the body being round, but a foot (that appears to be from a Western Han dynasty cocoon jar), has in modern times been fixed to the underside to enable this jar to stand upright on its own (presumably this could be removed but we leave to the eventual now owner). Vessels of this "cocoon" form were first produced by the Qin state during the Warring States period, although most known examples, typically of a more refined form including a foot, were made during the later Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). During this period (Han Dynasty) the cocoon jar was used for the storage of grain. However, it is known that during the Qin Dynasty, although smaller examples of cocoon jars were used for domestic purposes, larger examples such as this, although possibly also used for domestic purposes, were used by the military as listening devices. The vessel would be buried in earth with just its neck above ground. The large hollow body would act as an amplifier and echo chamber so that the vibrations of voices in an adjacent room, for example, could be heard, or, it is said, the enemy's movements or position could be determined by the sound of the hoof beats of their cavalry. This is a LARGE and imposing vessel.
Overall condition is good although there are signs of repair to the edge of the vulnerable rim. In 2000 this vessel was tested by Oxford Authentications, the ONLY testers of ancient pottery accepted by ALL major dealers, auction houses and museums worldwide, and the Thermoluminescence Analysis Report that will accompany this vessel is shown with our images; this confirms the date of manufacture as "between 1500 and 2400 years ago".