Featured Primitive Chinese urn

Discussion in 'Pottery, Glass, and Porcelain' started by katherinebuda, Nov 20, 2025.

  1. katherinebuda

    katherinebuda Member

    I purchased this "urn" at an estate that had multiple older pieces such as a Ming 1500s wine jug that I also bought.

    It is a puzzling piece that I have never come across before. At first I thought it was Native American Indian. It was sold as a Chinese terracotta piece. It is structurally sound but encrusted in dirt. It has striations on the base and it sounds like its metal. I havent done any testing yet.

    Possible Majiayao or Quijia period?

    Anyone have any idea of origin and date made? Screenshot_20251120_160052_Gallery.jpg Screenshot_20251120_160118_Gallery.jpg Screenshot_20251120_160231_Gallery.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2025
  2. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    It looks neolithic East or Southeast Asian, but I can't put my finger on the exact culture and origin.
    Footed bowls were found in most E and SE Asian neolithic cultures, and the use of red ochre is pretty generic.
    I have never seen those thickly applied 'handles' before though. Those clay dots remind me of the prunts on Medieval wine glasses, applied so the glass wouldn't slip through greasy fingers.
     
  3. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    @Any Jewelry, the breath of your knowledge never ceases to amaze me.

    Debora
     
  4. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Thank you.:shy::)
     
    Boland, Marote and 916Bulldogs123 like this.
  5. 916Bulldogs123

    916Bulldogs123 Well-Known Member

    That's probably why Google keeps coming up with Ban Chiang Thailand.

    Mikey
     
    Boland, kentworld and Any Jewelry like this.
  6. Boland

    Boland Well-Known Member

    What a very cool and interesting thing. Really hope we learn more.
     
  7. Boland

    Boland Well-Known Member

    I certainly think most of us feel the same..
     
  8. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Google Lens produced this for me:

    The image displays an ancient Chinese pottery vessel, possibly a type of ritual vessel such as a gu or hu, dating back to early Chinese dynasties like the Shang or Han.These ceramic items often served as cooking, serving, or storage vessels in daily life before more elaborate bronze versions were created for high-status rituals and burials.
    • Similar ancient Chinese ceramics are significant forms of art globally, with some of the oldest known pottery found in China.
    • Authenticity and value are determined by specialists.
    • Such artifacts are often found in museum collections or sold at high-end auctions.
    • Ancient vessels can be found in various forms, including those used for wine or food, and some were placed in tombs as mingqi (funerary items).
     
  9. katherinebuda

    katherinebuda Member

    I looked up gu and hu vessels that appear to be used in ritiuals, mostly serving wine, and they certainly dont look like this footed bowl. The gu is a slender and flared. The hu is usually lidded and also slender.

    I can see it as a bowl for rituals or temporary storage
     
    Any Jewelry and Bronwen like this.
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