A grey pottery jar

Description:

China, probably Warring States period, ca. 4th c. BC
H. 30,5 cm / B. 39 cm
Of ovoid form rising from a flat base to a waisted neck and flared rim, the body finely incised with geometric and wave patterns, the shoulder set with two relief ribs and two mask-form handles suspending loose rings.
From an old German private collection, according to the owner from the collection of race driver Oswald Karch (1917-2009), in the family since the 1970s - Wooden base - Small chip to the mouth
This vessel combines a rather common form of pottery jars (cf. Christie's New York, 21 Mar 2000, lot 235) with the more elaborate shapes of bronze vessels from the period and earlier. Cf. a related bronze wine vessel 'lei', sold by Sotheby's Paris, 16 June 2022, lot 80.