A CHINESE NEOLITHIC PAINTED POTTERY JAR, MAJIAYAO CULTURE, MID TO LATE 3RD MILLENIUM BC A CHINESE NEOLITHIC PAINTED POTTERY JAR, MAJIAYAO CULTURE, MID TO LATE 3RD MILLENIUM BC A CHINESE NEOLITHIC PAINTED POTTERY JAR, MAJIAYAO CULTURE, MID TO LATE 3RD MILLENIUM BC A CHINESE NEOLITHIC PAINTED POTTERY JAR, MAJIAYAO CULTURE, MID TO LATE 3RD MILLENIUM BC A CHINESE NEOLITHIC PAINTED POTTERY JAR, MAJIAYAO CULTURE, MID TO LATE 3RD MILLENIUM BC

A CHINESE NEOLITHIC PAINTED POTTERY JAR, MAJIAYAO CULTURE, MID TO LATE 3RD MILLENIUM BC

Reference: ART1007643

A neolithic jar made of orange-brown clay and pear-shaped body with an elongated neck terminated in a slightly curved mouth rim. Standing on a flat base and equipped with a pair of broad lugs placed mid-way. The lower part is deprived of any painted decoration. The design at the upper half consists of relative simple but charming black and brownish patterns, mainly executed in thin or broad sweeping strokes creating powerful impressions. The design of the jar is divided over two broad bands. The lower segment, encompassing both looped rings for attachment, is painted with a few long black and brown scrolling lines against an uncolored fond. The shoulder section is in strong contrast decorated with four roundels consisting each of a pattern of many fine brown and black concentric and swirling lines.

The pottery vases of the Majiayao Culture possess the most varied and attractive decoration of any prehistoric Chinese painted pottery known. As well it includes the largest average pot size and the greatest variety of pot types among any pottery of prehistoric Chinese cultures. It is estimated that these painted pottery jars were fired at a temperature of between 800 and 1050 degrees Celsius, the highest firing temperature of any prehistoric Chinese civilization. As result, the body is hard, tough and not easily to be damaged and resistant to weathering that is confirmed by the fine condition of both vases under review. 49.5 cm

PROVENANCE Private collection, The Netherlands

CATALOGUE NOTE Comparable Neolithic pottery jars from the Majiayao Culture are published by R. Krahl in ’Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection’, vol. 1, AzimuthEditions Limited, London 1994, nos. 6, 12 and 32.