Ancient ChinaFrom the Neolithic Period to the Han Dynasty

Bottle with mouth in the shape of a mushroomChina; Shaanxi provinceNeolithic period, Banpo phase of Yangshao culture(approx. 5000-3000 bce)Earthenware with painted decorationGift of Hanni Forester, 1992.2

Ritual implement (cong)China; Zhejiang or Jiangsu provinceNeolithic period, Liangzhu culture (approx. 3300-2200 bce)NephriteThe Avery Brundage Collection, B60J603

Cup with high handleChina; Shandong provinceNeolithic period, Longshan culture(approx. 2500-1900 bce)Eggshell earthenware with openwork slitsGift of Bruce and Terese Bartholomew, 1998.30

Excavation Photo: Tomb No 3 at SidunLiangzhu culture (ca. 2,500 bce)Jiangsu ProvinceCourtesy China Pictorial Service, Beijing

Horse decoration in the form of a taotie mask, approx. 1300-1050 bceChinaShang dynasty (approx. 1600-1050 bce)BronzeThe Avery Brundage Collection, B60B647

Ritual food vessel (ding),approx. 1300-1050 bceChinaShang dynasty (approx. 1600-1050 bce)BronzeThe Avery Brundage Collection, B60B1030

Ritual vessel (fangyi),approx. 1300-1050 bceChinaShang dynasty (approx. 1600-1050 bce)BronzeThe Avery Brundage Collection, B60B997

Ritual wine vessel (the so-called Yayi jia),approx. 1300-1050 BCE.China; Henan province. Shang dynasty(approx. 1600-1050 BCE).Bronze.The Avery Brundage Collection, B61B11+

Excavation photo: Tomb No.1001 at AnyangLate Shang Dynasty, ca. 1,200 bce.Henan provinceCourtesy Academia Sinica, Republic of Taiwan

Covered ritual wine vessel (gong),approx. 1050-900 bceChinaWestern Zhou dynasty(approx. 1050-771 bce)BronzeThe Avery Brundage Collection, B60B1004

Ritual food vessel (Gui)BronzeLate Western Zhou dynastyLate 9th–early 8th century bceThe Avery Brundage Collection, B60 B1056

Ritual Wine Vessel (hu)ChinaBronzeMid to Late Western Zhouapprox. 900-850 BCEThe Avery Brundage Collection, B60B972

Excavation photo: Tomb of Marquis Yi of ZengWarring States period, 475–221 BCELeigudun, Hubei ProvinceCourtesy Hubei Provincial Museum

Ritual bell (the so-called Wangsun Yizhe yongzhong),approx. 550 bceChina; discovered in Jingzhou county, Hubei province before 1900Eastern Zhou dynasty (771-221 bce)BronzeThe Avery Brundage Collection, B60S552

Excavation photo: Terra Cotta Army of the First EmperorQin Dynasty, 221–210 bceLitong, Shaanxi ProvinceCourtesy Hamilton Photography, Seattle

Vase with coverChinaWestern Han dynasty (206 bce-9 ce)Stoneware with molded low-relief andpainted decorationThe Avery Brundage Collection, B60P2391

House modelChinaEastern Han dynasty (25-220)EarthenwareThe Avery Brundage Collection, B60P1802

CicadaChinaHan dynasty (206 bce-220 ce)NephriteThe Avery Brundage Collection, B60J583

Money treeChina; probably Sichuan provinceEastern Han dynasty (25-220)Bronze with glazed earthenware baseGift of the Connoisseur’s Council, 1995.79

Money tree (Details)China; probably Sichuan provinceEastern Han dynasty (25-220)Bronze with glazed earthenware baseGift of the Connoisseur’s Council, 1995.79