Mini Jar With Surface Impressions, Warring States (475-221 BC), China

This type of mini-sized unglazed jar appeared during the Eastern Zhou and early Han dynasties. The jar was gray after firing, and its base has dark gray, purple, and reddish hues, probably due to its use as a cooking vessel. The natural beauty of its finish comes from its delicate surface patterns, formed by the imprint of a roughly woven fiber, possibly cotton or straw. It has a thin rim and two pairs of parallel tubular "ears" on either side of the rim. These finely crafted ears are pierced with holes and allow the passage of a thin handle for lifting the jar.