Neolithic Majiayao Culture Painted Pottery Jar With Leaf Motifs, Majiayao Culture 3300 BCE‑2050 BCE

拍品描述

Dimensions: 16 cm (6.30 in) in diameter, 9 cm (3.54 in) in height, Early to Middle Neolithic (4th millennium BCE to early 2nd millennium BCE). Condition and Provenance: This jar is largely intact, with only a shallow, minor crack associated with ancient burial, showing no signs of displacement or repair. The rim has only minor chips, with no signs of modern polishing, repainting, or acid washing. The body is made of solid red terracotta, covered with a thick layer of natural burial crust. Black pigment leaf patterns encircle the shoulder; some pigment wear and fading are entirely due to underground deposition. Rotary cutting marks on the low foot indicate pre-production. Soil rust and surface patina indicate an untreated burial state. This jar was transferred from a collector in Northwest China to an antique gallery in Hong Kong and acquired in 2019 by a private collector in Nevada, USA, specializing in prehistoric pottery. Hong Kong, Nevada, and Vancouver are important global trading centers for Neolithic Chinese painted pottery. Description: This painted pottery jar with leaf patterns from the Majiayao culture was a daily storage container and sacrificial implement used by prehistoric tribes in the upper reaches of the Yellow River in Gansu and Qinghai provinces. It is an exquisite example of plant-themed artifacts among Majiayao painted pottery. The jar has an open mouth, a short, tapering neck, a rounded, sloping body, and a low foot. The overall shape is full and sturdy, with soft, flowing lines. The shoulder is surrounded by multiple stylized leaf patterns, each leaf containing parallel diagonal lines and decorated with serrated geometric patterns outlined in black mineral pigment. The composition is full and balanced, with simple and bold brushstrokes. The plant leaf motifs reflect the ancient people's observation of vegetation and agriculture, embodying a primitive belief in praying for a bountiful harvest, which is relatively rare among Majiayao artifacts. This jar was handcrafted using the coil-building method, and after rough polishing, it was painted with manganese-based natural mineral pigments and fired in a low-temperature wood-fired kiln. The pigments adhere naturally and firmly to the body. The original turning marks preserved on the low foot provide valuable material evidence for the study of Neolithic pottery making techniques, prehistoric plant-themed painting art, and primitive agricultural beliefs in Northwest China. Majiayao jars with preserved plant motifs are rare in the global antique market. This jar has a complete composition, clear images, and is well-preserved, possessing a complete excavated clay body. It has outstanding archaeological research value and prehistoric art collection value, attracting widespread attention from North American prehistoric artifact collectors and small to medium-sized private museums overseas, and is a unique core item in a complete collection of ancient painted pottery.

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