A large Chinese Neolithic Machang painted pottery jar, c.230...

Hammer

£220

A large Chinese Neolithic Machang painted pottery jar, c.2300-2000 BC) of the Majiayao culture, the short neck with flared mouth, and two sturdy loop handles on opposing sides at the waist, the outside of the jar and the mouth have been decorated with the well-documented frog or hand pattern, as well as the circular net pattern in two different colours, 40cm high, width at the handles of 42cm

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A large Chinese Neolithic Machang painted pottery jar, c.2300-2000 BC) of the Majiayao culture, the short neck with flared mouth, and two sturdy loop handles on opposing sides at the waist, the outside of the jar and the mouth have been decorated with the well-documented frog or hand pattern, as well as the circular net pattern in two different colours, 40cm high, width at the handles of 42cm
This large and impressive pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago during the Machang Phase (also known as the Gansu-Yangshao culture, from present day Gansu or Qinghai province. It is quite "heavily-potted" with a smooth surface and is fairly highly-fired. The surface colour of the pottery varies in places, a result of uneven conditions during firing. The jar has been broken into two main pieces and re-stuck (all original pottery) and the pattern has been re-touched in places, although it must be stressed the actual design is original, the re-touching being over the original painting. Despite its faults, it is a very decorative, attractive and genuine example of four-thousand year old Chinese Neolithic pottery.