Featured Primitive Chinese urn

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?

 

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.

 

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

Debora

 

Thank you.

 

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

Mikey

 

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

 

I certainly think most of us feel the same..

 

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).

 

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