LARGE CHINESE NEOLITHIC "YANGSHAO" VASE
CHINA, MAJIAYAO YANGSHAO CULTURE, C. 2300–2000 B.C.
Estimate: £800 - £1,200
Auction: 13 March 2025 from 13:00 GMT
Description
painted terracotta, of ovoid form, standing on a flat disc base, with dual miniature strap handles and a short neck with everted rim, the body adorned with thick swirling lines executed in umber pigment
Dimensions
42cm tall
Provenance
Private collection, London, United Kingdom, acquired from the below
Peter Petrou, London
Footnote
The Yangshao culture and the following Majiayao culture (c. 5000–2000 B.C.) were Neolithic civilisations that flourished along the middle reaches of the Yellow River in China. Known for their early advancements in agriculture, these cultures practised millet farming and domestication of animals, supporting settled village life. Yangshao and Majiayao societies are particularly noted for their painted pottery, often featuring geometric and stylised motifs in black and red on buff-coloured earthenware. These ceramics, typically hand-built using coiling techniques, suggest a sophisticated aesthetic sensibility and possible ritual or symbolic significance.