Gem's of China's Cultural Relics by Ai Hsi

Depicted from Arts of Asia May-June 1991

Enamel coloured porcelain vase with movable core. 

Qing dynasty, H: 40.2cm, Diameter at top: 19.2cm

 

Blue and white prunus vase with lid and peony design,

Yuan dynasty. H: 48.7cm, mouth diameter: 3.5cm

Painted pottery figure of ceremonial guard,

Western Han dynasty, H: 49cm

Jade Ware

        Jade wares and painted pottery stand out among the relics of the Neolithic Age owing to the influence of the Liang-chu  (Liangzhu) culture and Huai-I (Huaiyi) culture.  The former prevailed around Lake Tai-hu (Taihu), south of the Yangtze, China’s longest river, while the latter prospered around the northern bank of the Yangtze.

        Although the two cultures produced excellent primitive handcrafts, such as bamboo and wood articles, they are most famous for the popular use of jade wares, Yang said. The photo below shows a necklace strung together with seventy beads carved out of yellow and cream jade and turquoise. The beads are round, tube-shaped and pendant, indicating the pursuit of beauty some five thousand years ago.

Jade necklace, Neolithic,

Continuous length: 76cm

Painted Pottery

        In the Neolithic Age, when bronze wares were a rarity, pottery wares were widely used in daily life and for sacrificial rites. Typical of the Neolithic Age is the painted pottery of the Miao-ti-kou (Miaodigou) culture, which prevailed in the Central China’s Honan (Henan) province.

        The majority of the painted pottery wares of the Miao-ti-kou culture are basins and bowls. Known for their decorative patterns, pottery wares of this type usually have a reddish body painted with black pigment extracted from mineral ores. A common decoration on a bowl is a black line around the bowl’s outer rim; while for a basin, the decorations are mainly painted on the body and rim. Bowls are usually painted with leaves, waves, circular nets and dots, all in black. Other patterns include fish, birds and flowers.

        The photo below shows a painted pottery jar with typical patterns of the Miao-ti-kou culture. The jar is made of red clay. It has a straight neck and a drum shaped body. On the shoulders are net, waves, cross in circle and bow string motifs painted in black.

Painted pottery jar,Neolithic,

H: 28.5cm, Diameter of mouth: 13cm

Bronze

Bronze standing statue, Shang dynasty,

H: 172cm, Height of base: 90cm

       The Shang and Chou dynasties are believed to have been the peak period for bronze making in China. The photo above depicts a 172cm tall bronze statue standing on a ninety centimeter high dais. The largest bronze ever found in China, the figure is tall and slender, wearing an ornate coronet and a long robe with a swallow tail, all with delicate design and in elegant style. His huge hands are raised to his breast in a gesture as if holding something. He is bare-footed, but has a pair of anklets. Experts believe that the bronze statue is probably the image of a king of the state of Shu of the Shang dynasty. According to the burn traces on the other bronze articles, this figure may have been used in a sacrificial rite and buried afterwards.

Elephant shaped bronze tsun (wine vessel), 

Shang dynasty, H: 26.5cm

Gold and silver inlaid bronze pedestal of a tiger devouring a deer,

Warring States period, H: 21.9cm, L: 51cm