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

Ronald W. Longsdorf, 《陶誌：中國新石器時代陶器 約公元前7000年 – 前1000年》，香港，2020年，圖版24

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-hatched pattern resembling what one would imagine as a fishing cage. The design is further enhanced by irregular white bosses each set on a black lacquer-like adhesive. On careful examination with their rugged topography, these inlays appear to be shell bosses. The decoration on the present piece draws strong allusions to the fishing culture, one of the common lifestyles in contemporary society.

Compare a taller jar with similar inlays from the Meiyintang collection, illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang collection, Vol. III, London, 2006, p. 41, 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，即如本品。

此罐，廣圓器腹繪菱格紋，傚擬捕魚之籠器，紋飾之上嵌以白寶，使用黑漆膠合，細觀其紋理，遂知乃貝甲製成。整體紋飾題材均與漁獵相關，反映當時的生活方式。

比較玫茵堂珍藏一例，較高，亦飾以嵌寶，錄於康蕊君《玫茵堂中國陶瓷》，卷3，2006年，倫敦，頁41，圖版1048。