Carol

Unfortunately, all of us are limited in our collecting efforts by the fact of our physical locations throughout the world.  I have always envied those collectors located in major cities near reputable auction houses.  Europe also provides a fertile hunting ground for various Chinese  ceramics.  Europeans basically cleared out China of Kangxi porcelains in the previous centuries.

I was rather gobsmacked that a Texas auction house ended up with this particular collection of early Chinese ceramics.  Please forgive me  for crowing in excitement on the rare occasion of such an event.

I haven't bought anything from them mainly because I am from Melbourne Australia and the USD conversion rate is very low atm at 0.63.

That said with the buyers premium and the high cost of shipping makes purchases very expensive. 

Mark 

Indeed, the lugs could be bear or dog handles which were rather typical of that time period.

At first glance, I thought the little cream-colored jar might be a small lamp, but the perforations do not penetrate to the inside (except for one interior pinprick, which looks to be a mistake on the part of the maker).

The larger jar is also rather nice, as the lug handles are decorated, and it is in very good condition. Not high value, but a true bargain price for the three items. 

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Unfortunately, the bluebonnets were past their prime.

I remember looking closely at that lug handled jar and that small white or crème jar with the perforations in the body is very intriguing.  We are so lucky to be living in Texas and able to avoid shipping costs!

I won a number of smaller items. Four Chinese miniatures, Neolithic and later. I especially like the little red one. The white in the saucer dish is a paper tag, not a hole. Next, the two impressed jars, which are Warring States, the larger about eight inches wide. Then the three vessels described as Han and earlier, the biggest 8.5 inches, all three quite nice. The two painted pieces are Neolithic, ca. 3300-2000 BCE, one broken and restored. And lastly, the Han dynasty lug-handled jar, about ten inches wide.

Now my task is to get them arranged properly!

Best regards,

Carol