Mold Made

A mold (mould) is hollow container with a particular shape into which soft or liquid substances are poured, so that when the substance becomes hard it takes the shape of the container. (Cambridge Dictionary) There are two types of moulds: a two piece mould and the one piece mould. The two piece mould is the most widely used and simplest method because it enables the two halves of an object to be joined while still in their molds which makes it easier to both fix and smooth seams without warping the vessel. With this type of mould one can create ceramics which have different designs on each side. With a one piece mould the side has to be removed from the mould to be joined which makes the seams difficult to make and they usually appear crude and sloppy. With this type of mould all ceramics will have an identical design on each of the two halves.(sfu.ca/archaeology) Moulds were widely used in ceramic production in ancient civilizations. In China, particularly during the Han dynasty up through after the eleventh century, both types of moulds were used for mingqi to meet the growing demands for ceramic of various types at the time. For at least 3000 years moulds have been used in much of Central and South America for figurines, vessels and decorative pieces. The process of creating the early moulds is not known but it is believed that they were created by pressing clay around a pre-existing vessel and then dividing it into two halves. These two halves are then removed as it begins to dry.(sfu.ca/archaeology). Earthenware pipes from Thai and Burmese Hill tribes are mould made using bi valve molds and terracotta pieces from India are mould made and hand painted so each one is unique. .

Showing 1–12 of 22 results

  • Sale!

    Ancient Glazed Ceramic Han Wing Cup, China (1009BOH) $450

    Original price was: $450.00.Current price is: $382.50.
    H: 1.5”  W: 5.125”  D: 3.875” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This Han dynasty green glazed winged cup is a mingqi burial object placed in a tomb to comfort and satisfy the deceased. Winged cups were popular during the Han Dynasty when they were made from molded earthenware covered with a thick green leaded glaze which sometimes , as here, caused a chemical reaction between the lead and the tomb’s humidity resulting in an iridescent silver-green color.

  • Sale!

    Ancient Han Dynasty Glazed Hu Jar, China (1604AOK) $595

    Original price was: $595.00.Current price is: $505.75.
    H: 6.75” Dia: 6″ | FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This 2000 year old heavy wine vessel called a Hu is covered in a dark-green lead glaze used often during the Han dynasty for burial items called mingqi, a variety of which were placed in tombs to provide comfort to the deceased in their afterlife. With a characteristic elegant hu shape, it rests on a wide foot and rises to a minimally decorated globular body with low relief horizontal bars, a wide tapering neck and is topped by a wide flaring bowl-like mouth. Its underside, like most, was left unglazed.

  • Sale!

    Ancient Han Dynasty Pottery Pig, China (2029BKE) $395

    Original price was: $395.00.Current price is: $335.75.
    H: 2.5”  W: 4.5”  D: 2.375” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This glazed pig mingqi was one of many items made for a tomb to placate the spirit of the deceased and assure the soul’s access to the things enjoyed when alive. This animal mingqi confirms the importance of pigs as a food source and of raising livestock in Han China. An alert animal whose stocky body is typical, it’s dark lead green glaze and damp tomb created a chemical reaction over centuries making it a lustrous, iridescent green impossible to copy that is highly valued in China and by collectors. In very good condition, it has expected glaze losses, minor abrasions and cracks due to its age and long tomb burial.

  • Sale!

    Ancient Harpocrates Figurine, Roman Empire, Alexandria (1844BHK) $395

    Original price was: $395.00.Current price is: $335.75.
    Ht: 6.5”  W: 2.625”  D: 1.75” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This ancient figurine is Harpocrates the Greek god of silence and secrets holding a jar made for a home shrine.  He probably represents a royal and temple cult, as he wears a double crown symbolizing both Upper and Lower Egypt and his royal emblem signifies his association with the reigning Egyptian king, who was considered a manifestation of the Egyptian god Horus. Missing part of his right side when excavated, and no with no repairs this is a true slice of history. It pairs well with #1845 Ancient Pottery Figurine of Child Nurturer Goddess.

     

  • Sale!

    Antique Ceramic Hill Tribe Pipe, Burma/Myanmar (3474A-WKE) $85

    Original price was: $85.00.Current price is: $72.25.
    H: 2”  W: 1.75”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Antique and vintage ceramic tobacco pipes are part of a long cultural tradition of Burmese/Myanmar and Thai hill tribes. Mould made and adorned with intricate designs, a bamboo or metal stem was often inserted at the end through which smoke was drawn. This highly collectible antique item reflects hill-tribe skills creating decorative functional objects and would be a unique gift for any pipe smoker, but, like all antique items, we recommended it be used as a decorative item.

  • Sale!

    Antique Clay Hill Tribe Ceramic Pipe, Burma/Myanmar (3474C-WKE) $105

    Original price was: $105.00.Current price is: $89.25.
    H: 1.875”  W: 1.75”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING!

    Antique and vintage ceramic tobacco pipes are part of a long cultural tradition of Burmese/Myanmar and Thai hill tribes. Mould made and adorned with intricate designs, a bamboo or metal stem was often inserted at the end through which smoke was drawn. This highly collectible antique item reflects hill-tribe skills creating decorative functional objects and would be a unique gift for any pipe smoker, but, like all antique items, we recommended it be used as a decorative item.

  • Sale!

    Antique Clay Hill Tribe Pipe, Burma/Myanmar (3474B-WKE) $85

    Original price was: $85.00.Current price is: $72.25.
    H: 2”  W: 1.75”  D: 4” | FREE SHIPPING!

    Antique and vintage ceramic tobacco pipes are part of a long cultural tradition of Burmese/Myanmar and Thai hill tribes. Mould made and adorned with intricate designs, a bamboo or metal stem was often inserted at the end through which smoke was drawn. This highly collectible antique item reflects hill-tribe skills creating decorative functional objects and would be a unique gift for any pipe smoker, but, like all antique items, we recommended it be used as a decorative item.

  • Sale!

    Antique Ming Attendant with Zodiac Animal, China (1155BCK)

    Original price was: $395.00.Current price is: $335.75.
    H: 7.375”  W: 2.75”  D: 2.5” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S!

    A group of 12 zodiac figures as mingqi sometimes accompanied the wealthy deceased in their tomb. This Ming dynasty earthenware figurine stands on a low circular base and wears an official’s hat and long flowing robes. It is difficult to identify the specific animal held here but it may be a rabbit, small dog or baby pig. The detailed figure is hollow and partially mould-made and unlike glazed mingqi, was covered with a white slip and painted using black and white pigments which are mostly extant.

  • Sale!

    Antique Ming Dynasty Earthenware Horseshoe Chair, China (3331BOK) $685

    Original price was: $685.00.Current price is: $582.25.
    H: 7.375″  W: 4.375″  D: 3.75″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    Often ancestral figures were portrayed sitting in horseshoe chairs to reflect their high status. As many earthenware mingqi, this well-modeled chair has a liberally applied green glaze resulting in expected drips around the stretchers. The seat is decorated with a yellow glaze imitating caning and the decorative carved design on the splat also has a green glaze and a carved decorative “clocklike” circular design. The bottom of the seat and legs are not usually glazed. In very good condition with expected minor chips and minor glaze deterioration consistent with its age and long burial, it pairs perfectly with item 3330 and together would add to a fine collection of Chinese ceramics or brighten up a small space.

  • Sale!

    Antique Ming Earthenware Horseshoe Chair, China (3330BOK) $685

    Original price was: $685.00.Current price is: $582.25.
    H: 7.375″  W: 4.375″  D: 3.75″ | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This charming miniature Ming dynasty ceramic horseshoe pottery chair is an accurate model of an impressive beautifully grained hardwood Ming chair with a continuous horseshoe shaped top rail and a caned seat. The curved splat of a wood chair might have either carved or pierced motifs or medallions and straight or curved stretchers joining the legs in pairs at the same height on each side. Often ancestral carved figures were portrayed sitting in horseshoe chairs and reflect the high status of the figure they were portraying. This ceramic mingqi (burial item) has a thick green glaze throughout which was liberally applied normal usual drips around the stretchers. The seat is decorated with a yellow glaze in imitation of caning as is the decorative carved design on the splat, but the bottoms of the seat and legs are unglazed. The rail ends splay to the right and left for hand comfort and decorative effect are traditionally found in Ming Dynasty hardwood chairs. In very good condition with minor chips and paint losses, it was buried underground in a tomb for centuries. This would be a fine addition to a collection of antique ceramics or simply a beautiful decorative piece to brighten a small space.

  • Sale!

    Antique Rare Set of Ming Ceramic Attendants, China (3224)

    Original price was: $4,985.00.Current price is: $4,237.25.

    Earthenware ceramics of all kinds – figures of attendants, musicians and entertainers, miniature furniture, architectural models, animals – included mould made ancestral objects used specifically for burials called mingqi (“bright…

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    Brick Molded Tile of a Foreigner, China (1516A-BOK) $475

    Original price was: $475.00.Current price is: $403.75.

    Ht:6.875″ W:5.25” D:2.25 | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This fascinating thick Song pottery brick is a low-fired depiction of a dwarf foreigner with a rotund belly, a large head and nose, an open mouth and abnormal features. The Chinese believed dwarfs could ward off evil spirits and sickness, attract peace and blessings (fu) and were very wise. Images of dwarfs became so popular, some were produced in numbers.

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