Chinese Northern Wei Dynasty Hu


A beautiful Chinese ash glazed large pottery wine jar, also named Hu, from the Northern Wei Dynasty. The vessel features a flat base, from which its body spreads out to a wide waist and then tapers in again to the neck, which opens up to a large cup-like opening, with the rim modelled into a collar. Two couples of twin lug handles are applied on the shoulders of the vase. The vessel’s body displays a zigzagged pattern on one side, and some dark scattered markings. 


Date: Circa 386-534 AD
Period: Northern Wei
Condition: Very fine, some weathering to the surface due to ageing.

In stock

SKU: CS-175 Category: Tags: ,

Ash glazing, also known as straw glazing, is the process through which the glossy finish, like the one featured on this vessel, is obtained. The technique was discovered around 1500 BC in China, during the Shang Dynasty, by accident, as ash from the burnt wood in the kiln landed on pots. Around 1000 BC, the Chinese came to the realization that the ash covering the pieces was causing the glaze, so they started intentionally adding the ash as a glaze before the pot went into the kiln for firing. This was the first glaze used in East Asia, and contained only ash, clay, and water.


Weight 2000 g
Dimensions H 40 cm

Pottery and Porcelain


Reference: For a similar item, The British Museum, item number 1924,1215.42

You may also like…