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

Ronald W. Longsdorf, The Pottery Age: An Appreciation of Neolithic Ceramics from China, Circa 7000 BC - Circa 1000 BC, Hong Kong, 2020, pl. 25.

Ronald W. Longsdorf，《陶誌：中國新石器時代陶器 約西元前7000年 – 前1000年》，香港，2020年，圖版25

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-hatching resembling what one would imagine as a fishing cage. The design is further enhanced by irregular white shell bosses each set on a black lacquer-like adhesive. The decoration on the present piece draws strong allusions to the fishing culture, one of the common lifestyles in Neolithic societies.

Compare a shorter jar with similar inlays from the same collection, included in Ronald W. Longsdorf, op.cit., pl. 24, and sold in these rooms, 25th May 2022, lot 815; and another example from the Meiyintang collection, illustrated in Regina Krahl, Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang collection, London, 1994-2006, vol. 3, 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，本品便是一例。此罐嵌飾白色貝殼，利用黑漆類的物質黏合，並繪以菱格紋，猶如捕魚之器，反映古代生活方式。

比較另一嵌寶陶罐，收入 Ronald W. Longsdorf，前述出處，圖版24。玫茵堂珍藏也有一例，錄於康蕊君《玫茵堂中國陶瓷》，1994-2006年，倫敦，卷3，編號1048。