Amazing Large Genuine Ancient Chinese Intact Painted Earthenware Bowl BC2000.
CLASSIFICATION: Painted Earthenware Bowl.
ATTRIBUTION: In the Style of Pre-Dynastic Ancient China, about 2,000 B.C. Possibly an 18th or 19th Century Revival Imitative.
SIZE/MEASUREMENTS:
Diameter: 124 millimeters (5 inches) at top rim; 107 millimeters (4 1/3 inches) at belly; 64 millimeters (2 1/2 inches) at base.
Height: 76 millimeters (3 inches)
CONDITION: Excellent! Entirely intact except for a the normal potting blemishes associated with crude hand production; and assorted minor bumps and bruises consistent with wear due to ancient usage and then burial.
DETAIL: A splendid, magnificent, and rare smaller-sized painted earthenware bowl. Completely intact, the worst blemishes are a few chips in the paint – hardly unexpected of a bowl of this age which spent a significant portion of its life buried! Apparently attributable to pre-dynastic China, these bowls are generally not recovered intact, typically they are found shattered into fragments (shards). However this particular specimen was found intact. It’s about the size of a large grapefruit, and as you can see, the painted design is mostly intact. What’s really remarkable is that it is that despite its age it is nonetheless entirely intact, with no damage aside from the normal little bumps and bruises one would expect with an earthenware household utensil which was used and then buried. As well there are the normal blemishes (bumps, warts and acne pits) one expects with earthenware crudely fashioned by hand. Notwithstanding these blemishes (entirely normal for an ancient earthenware bowl), it has emerged from the soil in wonderful condition!
Although it is probable that this specimen is much older, it is also possible that this piece might be a revivalist imitative produced for the European market of the 18th or 19th century. It is widely known that Chinese porcelain and other ceramic artwork was quite popular in Victorian Europe. Carrying Chinese porcelain from China to Europe was an industry for the seafaring mariners of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Entire fleets of sailing ships plied the trade, especially the Dutch and English. However in addition to porcelain, ancient Chinese ceramics were also extremely popular in Victorian Europe, where Chinese ceramic artwork was highly appreciated and in great demand.
Although the style of this specimen is very convincing and suggests it might indeed be of pre-dynastic origin, a large portion of the antique/ancient Chinese ceramics in Europe date to the 18th or 19th century, so it is quite possible that this is an imitative revival piece. Judging by the style it is likely considerably older, but only a $600 thermoluminescence test would establish this conclusively (and even then the reliability and accuracy of such testing is still debated). So we’ll simply err on the side of being conservative and suggest that you consider it a revival piece, and if it is indeed older, so much the better. However whether an antique several centuries old, or an antiquity several millennia old, this is a valuable and collectible piece of art.
As described, the artifact does possess a few minor scuffs, marks, dings, etc. – all very small. Of course these are all blemishes you would expect to find of a household artifact which was used in ancient times and then buried. It’s not perfect, but it is about as close to perfect as you will ordinarily find of an authentic large-sized painted earthenware bowl like this. Realistically one would expect some dings after being buried, so there are no surprises here except that by and large the artifact remains relatively intact. Overall it is an exceptionally attractive piece, fairly rare, and relatively well preserved specimen of the ancient Chinese art of pottery. If you’d like an authentic ancient/antique painted earthenware bowl to proudly display, you could not go wrong with this one. It is solidly shaped, nicely featured, and nicely proportioned.
SHIPPING & RETURNS/REFUNDS: Due to its fragile nature this particular piece is only shipped in an oversized box with lots of Styrofoam peanuts. The shipping weight of this item is 3 pounds. Additional items shipped together do result in a discount. We can add most other items we offer to the shipment for only $0.99 each. Your purchase will ordinarily be shipped within 48 hours of payment. We package as well as anyone in the business, with lots of protective padding and containers. All of our shipments are fully insured against loss, and our shipping rates include the cost of this coverage (through stamps.com, Shipsaver.com, the USPS, UPS, or Fed-Ex).
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If upon receipt of the item you are disappointed for any reason whatever, I offer a no questions asked 30-day return policy. Send it back, I will give you a complete refund of the purchase price; 1) less our original shipping/insurance costs, 2) less non-refundable eBay payment processing fees. Please note that eBay does NOT refund payment processing fees. Even if you “accidentally” purchase something and then cancel the purchase before it is shipped, eBay will not refund their processing fees. So all refunds for any reason, without exception, do not include eBay payment processing fees (typically between 5% and 15%) and shipping/insurance costs (if any). If you’re unhappy with eBay’s “no fee refund” policy, and we are EXTREMELY unhappy, please voice your displeasure by contacting eBay. We have no ability to influence, modify or waive eBay policies.
ABOUT US: Prior to our retirement we used to travel to Eastern Europe and Central Asia several times a year seeking antique gemstones and jewelry from the globe’s most prolific gemstone producing and cutting centers. Most of the items we offer came from acquisitions we made in Eastern Europe, India, and from the Levant (Eastern Mediterranean/Near East) during these years from various institutions and dealers. Much of what we generate on Etsy, Amazon and Ebay goes to support worthy institutions in Europe and Asia connected with Anthropology and Archaeology. Though we have a collection of ancient coins numbering in the tens of thousands, our primary interests are ancient/antique jewelry and gemstones, a reflection of our academic backgrounds.
Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, in Eastern Europe and Central Asia antique gemstones are commonly dismounted from old, broken settings – the gold reused – the gemstones recut and reset. Before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, we try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state – most of them originally crafted a century or more ago. We believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence. That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times. Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting.
Not everyone agrees – fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost. But if you agree with us that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or “lab produced”) gemstones which dominate the market today. We can set most any antique gemstone you purchase from us in your choice of styles and metals ranging from rings to pendants to earrings and bracelets; in sterling silver, 14kt solid gold, and 14kt gold fill. When you purchase from us, you can count on quick shipping and careful, secure packaging. We would be happy to provide you with a certificate/guarantee of authenticity for any item you purchase from us. There is a $3 fee for mailing under separate cover. I will always respond to every inquiry whether via email or eBay message, so please feel free to write.