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Small solid clay earthenware terracotta figures have been found in many Majapahit period sites and were finished with carved or incised decorations. The powerful Majapahit Empire spanning the 13th-16th centuries was Hinduism based, centered on the island of Java and extended from present-day Indonesia to Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Southern-Thailand, and the Philippines. Trowulan was the…
This is an excellent example of an ancient earthenware carinated pottery flagon made in production centers in throughout the Roman Empire. This was made in, the Roman-North-Africa territory called Africa-Proconsularis. These pouring vessels locally made by provincial artisans were used specifically to hold and pour water, wine and other liquids and placed in kitchens, on…
Wing or ear cups (yushang), a term that describes its side flange-like additions to its ovoid body, appeared as early as the Zhou dynasty (1046-256 BCE) made in lacquer and later from a variety of materials. Lacquerware cups were used as dining vessels used for rituals and ceremonies contain fragrances, food or wine; and the…
Hu vessels, first made in the Shang Dynasty is an ancient-pottery wine vessel whose body swells in the middle, flares into a narrow neck and often has a raised circular foot. Very popular during the Han dynasty, it was used as an ancestral tomb burial object (mingqi) to hold liquids and elixirs for the deceased…
Mingqi are ancient earthenware pottery items usually made using a bivalve mould and covered with a lead glaze that fired to a dark green. The lead in the glaze often combined with tomb dampness for centuries creating a chemical reaction changing its coloring into a lustrous and iridescent green seen here. Han mingqi were ancestral…
Artisans in the Roman Empire created varying local styles of terracotta figurines of gods and goddesses for placement on home shrines. This figure holding a jar represents Haroprates the ancient Greek god of silence and secrets. He may be an image of a royal and temple cult since he wears a double crown that symbolized…
This Biblical Period ancient earthenware wine jug was made in the late Iron Age in the Holy Land of Judea (the Levant) about the time of the first Jewish Temple. A very high carinated piece, it was built using the coil construction method and the paddle and anvil technique. Like most pouring vessels, it was…
This terracotta figurine from Alexandria in the Roman Egypt depicting a female holding a young child was probably placed in a home shrine to provide favors and protection. Although it is difficult to identify specific deities, this figure is probably a kourotrophos (meaning woman nurturing a child) –a female mortal or deity figurine with an…
This is an excellent example of an earthenware carinated flagon made in a Roman-Empire ceramic production center in the Roman-North-Africa territory called Africa-Proconsularis. The word flagon is derived from the Greek word for flask and is a larger, taller variant of a Greek flask used for oils (lagynos). Wheel made for the lower classes, undecorated…
This extremely rare late Ming/early Qing dynasty antique-Chinese-wood-carving carving is divided in two parts and is significant for its juxtaposition of images as well as its unique iconography. The top is one of the Taoist officials in typical officials-attire: an official’s hat, a tiered robe with a red sash extending to the tops of the…
Civilian Chinese-officials in dynastic China were awarded much desired positions after passing rigorous exams, as the selected few were assured high status positions, a comfortable living and retirement benefits. Families did their Confucian duty portraying their ancestor-figures in paintings and carvings and memorializing and honoring them by maintaining their filial piety by displaying their images…
Artisans who were commissioned by family members to carve an ancestor figure they often emphasized positive personal features as well as their high status (or wish to enhance it). So, when they were placed on the family home altar with Buddhist, Taoist, Chinese Popular religious deities, they appeared more important and esteemed. This ancestor was…
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