East Asia, China, Neolithic Period, ca. 3000 to 2000 BCE. A beautiful, large, ceramic urn decorated with a complex black and wine red pigmented geometric pattern of triangles, waves, and net-like patterns around the shoulder and neck. Two small, lugged handles are set mid-body. This piece is from the very early pottery tradition found at various archaeological sites along the Yellow River Basin (modern day Gansu Province in northwestern China to Henan Province in central China), from the culture sometimes called the Yangshao. The painted motifs on the urn's surface demonstrate a remarkably early use of fine brush work. This item would have served as an urn for a cremation burial, of which a limited number have been found from this culture. They seem to have been used mainly for children, and occasionally for adults. Size: 10.15" W x 12.5" H (25.8 cm x 31.8 cm)

Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired before 2000

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#136667

Intact, with some surface wear including tiny chips, pitting, and wear to pigment. Nice preservation of motifs.