The majority of our extensive ceramic collection is composed of pottery sculptures which date from the famous Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) through the Tang Dynasty (618 – 906 CE), the "Golden Age of China". Additionally, unusual and important examples from both earlier and later periods are significantly represented. These sculptures are primarily ritualistic in nature, but the subject matter is almost unlimited: imaginary and real beasts, legendary and religious figures, warriors of all ranks, entertainers and even architectural models, to name just a few. Virtually all of these artifacts can be found glazed or painted, although true multicolor glazing was not really done until the Tang Dynasty, with horses and camels being the most famous products of the era.
Pottery vessels of almost all shapes, patterns and sizes are generally amply represented in our collection. These containers are both ritualistic and mundane in nature and, similarly to the sculpture, they are also found with glazed and/or painted details and colors. However, they generally span a longer timeframe in our collection than do the sculptural forms, dating from the Neolithic period, c. 4500 BCE, to the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911 CE).
TK Asian Antiquities also has a smaller but pleasing selection of porcelainous and porcelain objects. These objects are generally vessels, although not exclusively. Various shapes often include architectural elements, scholar’s objects and occasionally sculpture. The majority of artifacts in the porcelain category date from the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 CE) through the Qing Dynasty.
This area is also one of the few areas where TK has anything of a contemporary nature. We have selected a fine group of unique vessels created by the artist Li Hui Gui, which we encourage you to view.
