An inlaid painted pottery jar, Majiayao culture, Machang phase, c. 2200-2000 BC 馬家窰文化 馬廠類型 嵌寶彩陶罐

Property from the Ronald W. Longsdorf Collection | Ronald W. Longsdorf 收藏
An inlaid painted pottery jar,
Majiayao culture, Machang phase, c. 2200-2000 BC
馬家窰文化 馬廠類型 嵌寶彩陶罐

d. 16 cm

Condition Report:
Four inlaid stones missing, a small nick to the mouthrim, general surface wear, typical of this type and period, three small testing drill holes to the base.
四顆鑲嵌佚失，口沿有一淺磕，屬此類時期作品典型狀況。底部有三細小檢測鑽孔。

Catalogue Note:
The present jar is a perfect testament demonstrating how Neolithic potters adroitly drew inspiration from their daily routine, as well as their innovation in using materials readily available to them to ornate utilitarian wares.

The bulbous body of the jar is painted with cross-hatching resembling what one would imagine as a fishing cage. The design is further enhanced by irregular white shell bosses each set on a black lacquer-like adhesive. The decoration on the present piece draws strong allusions to the fishing culture, one of the common lifestyles in Neolithic societies.

Compare a shorter jar with similar inlays from the same collection, included in Ronald W. Longsdorf, op.cit., pl. 24, and sold in these rooms, 25th May 2022, lot 815; and another example from the Meiyintang collection, illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang collection, London, 1994-2006, vol. 3, no. 1048.

新石器時期陶器，紋飾多取材於生活事物，並利用身邊可取得之元素裝飾器物，本品便是一例。此罐嵌飾白色貝殼，利用黑漆類的物質黏合，並繪以菱格紋，猶如捕魚之器，反映古代生活方式。

比較另一嵌寶陶罐，收入 Ronald W. Longsdorf，前述出處，圖版24。玫茵堂珍藏也有一例，錄於康蕊君《玫茵堂中國陶瓷》，1994-2006年，倫敦，卷3，編號1048。