Taotie-like face carved in relief on one side. Two holes pierced either side of obverse and another hole pierced longitudinally.]]>
taotie-like design.]]>
sancai ware figure of a saddled horse with a lowered head standing on a shallow rectangular unglazed base. irregularly shaped, multi-coloured glazed ceramic horse. Horse's mane presents pattern of linear grooves and the saddle a pattern of grooved diagonal criss-crosses. Horse's body is glazed brown and the saddle is glazed cream and green. Horse's tail exhibits a tie glazed blue.]]>
sancai ware figure in the form of a camel standing on a shallow rectangular unglazed base with five musicians mounted on its back. Dominant glaze colours are white ochre green and blue.]]>
yuan or one thousand wen); (left) 永遠通行 (circulating in perpetuity); (right) 大明寳鈔 (Great Ming currency); (bottom) 戶部 / 奏准印造 / 大明寳鈔與銅錢通行 / 使用僞造者斬告捕 / 者賞銀貳百伍拾兩 / 仍給犯人財產 / 洪武年月日 (The Imperial Board of Revenue having memorialised the Throne has received the Imperial sanction for the issue of Government notes of the Ming Empire to circulate on the same footing as standard cash. To counterfeit is death. The informant will receive 250 Taels of silver and in addition the entire property of the criminal). The Hongwu era of the reign of Emperor Taizu (1368-1398 AD).]]>
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bi]]>
bi. Dark green vein. Small circular central hole.]]>
(Chinese Tea Corporation. Made in the Zhao-Li-Qiao Brick-tea Factory).]]>
bai shou or 'Hundred Animals') theme.]]>
sang-de-boeuf bowl with a slightly out-turned rim and a wide flat base. Rim and base of bowl are glazed white. Glaze exhibits crazing and crackling.]]>
sui
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Da ya zhai (Big elegant studio) in red-brown glaze and a design of birds fruit and flowers in purple pink red-brown and yellow-green glaze. In red-brown glaze upper surfaces of each head piece present a grouping of five bats (wufu, symbolising the Five Blessings or Five Happinesses) encircling the Chinese seal character shou (symbolising longevity).]]>
bi]]>
bi. Crackle-patterned red vein. Small circular central hole.]]>
sui]]>
sui. Each end of obverse presents serpentine relief carving. Reverse presents a flat surface engraved with a repetitive series of circles and spirals.]]>
qingbai ware ewer. Glazed blue-white with darker blue decorative patterning. Ewer body is short and wide tapering at the top to a narrow circular opening and at the bottom to a shallow base. Ewer body also embellished with moulded ribs and a broad quatrefoil spout. Ring-shaped moulded handle attached to upper shoulder of ewer body at four equidistantly placed points.]]>
bi]]>
bi. Four equidistantly-spaced carved busts resting on folded arms and facing alternately obverse and reverse on outer circumference. Small circular central hole with blue cord threaded through. Obverse and reverse present grain pattern in relief.]]>
luopan. Obverse presents minute radial divisions containing Chinese characters in black and red pigment surrounding central compass needle inset under glass. Reverse presents a grid containing Chinese characters in black pigment.]]>
huang, one jade pendant, and one jade carving in a box]]>
huang. First huang is white mutton-fat jade with yellow vein. Second huang is green jade with dark green vein. Both huang from girdle pendants. At extremities of their crescent forms each huang possesses a suspension hole. One long dark green jade pendant; flattened circular cross-section; narrow shaft drilled through its length. One dark green jade carving. Presented in dark blue fabric-covered box with blue lining and inscription on inside lid.]]>
bi embellished with a carved crouching lion on the upper edge and a smaller carved crouching lion on the lower edge. Tail of upper lion extends into obverse face; tail of lower lion extends into reverse face. Small circular central hole. White cord threaded through gap between upper lion's body and bi.]]>
sui]]>
sui. Yellow-brown vein. Obverse presents two incised characters.]]>
bi]]>
bi. Four equidistantly-spaced projecting lugs on outer circumference. Large circular central hole. Obverse presents engraved pattern of diamonds and a date. Reverse presents four archaic Chinese characters.]]>
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yi pian bing xin or 'the heart of jade').]]>
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yuan]]>
yuan. Brown-flecked vein. Large circular central hole.]]>
yuan) surrounding central wreath motif within which are two Chinese characters 一角 (one jiao).]]>
hongwu tongbao). Reverse presents Chinese character 浙 (zhe) referring to mint in Zhejiang Province. From the Hongwu era of the reign of Emperor Taizu (1368-1398 AD).]]>
yuan).]]>
tiansheng yuanbao). From the Tiansheng era (1023-1032 AD) of the reign of Emperor Renzong (1022-1063 AD).]]>
huo quan). From the reign of Emperor Wang Mang (9-23 AD).]]>
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents two Chinese characters 貨泉 (huo quan). From the reign of Emperor Wang Mang (9-23 AD).]]>
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents two Chinese characters 貨泉 (huo quan). From the reign of Emperor Wang Mang (9-23 AD).]]>
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents two Chinese characters 貨泉 (huo quan). From the reign of Emperor Wang Mang (9-23 AD).]]>
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents two Chinese characters 貨泉 (huo quan). From the reign of Emperor Wang Mang (9-23 AD).]]>
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents two Chinese characters 貨泉 (huo quan). From the reign of Emperor Wang Mang (9-23 AD).]]>
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents two Chinese characters 貨泉 (huo quan). From the reign of Emperor Wang Mang (9-23 AD).]]>
zhouyuan tongbao). Reverse presents moulded serpentine design of phoenix and dragon. Characters refer to the Xiande era of the reign of Emperor Shi Zong (954-959 AD). However decorated reverse suggests that this is not genuine currency but rather a charm coin.]]>
guangxu zhongbao). Reverse presents two worn Chinese characters 當十 (dang shi or value ten) and two worn Manchu characters boo yuwan (Beijing Board of Works mint). From the Guangxu era of the reign of Emperor Dezong (1875-1908 AD).]]>
tongzhi zhongbao). Reverse presents two worn Chinese characters 當十 (dang shi or value ten) and two worn Manchu characters boo chiowan (Beijing Board of Revenue mint). From the Tongzhi era (1862-1875 AD) of the reign of Emperor Muzong (1861-1875 AD).]]>
xianfeng zhongbao). Reverse presents two worn Chinese characters 當十 (dang shi or value ten) and two worn Manchu characters boo chiowan (Beijing Board of Revenue mint). From the Xianfeng era (1851-1861 AD) of the reign of Emperor Wenzong (1850-1861 AD).]]>
daoguang tongbao). From the Daoguang (1821-1850 AD) era of the reign of Emperor Xuanzong (1820-1850 AD).]]>
jiaqing tongbao). Reverse presents two Manchu characters worn beyond legibility. From the Jiaqing era of the reign of Emperor Renzong (1796-1820).]]>
qianlong tongbao). Reverse presents two Manchu characters boo chuwan (referring to the Chengdu Sichuan mint). From the Qianlong era (1736-1796 AD) of the reign of Emperor Gaozong (1735-1796 AD).]]>
yongzheng tongbao). Reverse presents two Manchu characters boo chiowan (Beijing Board of Revenue mint). From the Yongzheng era (1723-1735 AD) of the reign of Emperor Shizong (1722-1735 AD).]]>
kangxi tongbao). Reverse presents two worn characters comprising the Manchu yun at left (referring to the Yunnan province mint) and the Chinese 雲 (yun) at right. From the Kangxi era (1662-1722 AD) of the reign of Emperor Shengzu (1661-1722 AD).]]>
shunzhi tongbao). Reverse presents one Chinese character 河 (he referring to the Kaifeng Henan province mint). From the Shunzhi era (1644-1661 AD) of the Emperor Shizu (1643-1661 AD).]]>
wu zhu). From the 1st Century BCE to the 6th Century AD.]]>
wu zhu) almost worn beyond legibility. From the 1st Century BCE to the 6th Century AD.]]>
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents two Chinese characters 貨泉 (huo quan). From the reign of Emperor Wang Mang (9-23 AD). Material missing from obverse upper left quadrant.]]>
yuanyou tongbao). From the Yuanyou era (1086-1094 AD) of the reign of Emperor Zhezong (1085-1100 AD).]]>
zhihe yuanbao). From the Zhihe era (1054-1056 AD) of the reign of Emperor Renzong (1022-1063 AD).]]>
kaiyuan tongbao). Kai Yuan early type 621-718 AD.]]>
kaiyuan tongbao). Kai Yuan of indeterminate type from 621-907 AD.]]>
yuanyou tongbao). From the Yuanyou era (1086-1094 AD) of the reign of Emperor Zhezong (1085-1100 AD).]]>
huangsong tongbao). Spans the period between the fourth (Baoyuan) and seventh (Huangyou) eras (1038-1054 AD) of the reign of Emperor Renzong (1022-1063 AD).]]>
shaosheng yuanbao). From the Shaosheng era (1094-1098 AD) of the reign of Emperor Zhezong (1085-1100 AD).]]>
tiansheng yuanbao). From the Tiansheng era (1023-1032 AD) of the reign of Emperor Renzong (1022-1063 AD).]]>
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four corroded Chinese characters 熙寧元寶 (xining yuanbao). From the Xining era (1068-1077 AD) of the reign of Emperor Shenzong (1068-1085 AD).]]>
zhiping tongbao). From the Zhiping era (1064-1067 AD) of the reign of Emperor Yingzong (1063-1067 AD).]]>
jiayou tongbao). From the Jiayou era (1056-1063 AD) of the reign of Emperor Renzong (1022-1063 AD).]]>
jingde yuanbao). From the Jingde era (1004-1007 AD) of the reign of Emperor Zhenzong (997-1022).]]>
songyuan tongbao). Spans the period between the first (Jianlong) and third (Kaibao) eras of the reign of Emperor Taizu (960-976 AD).]]>
tiansheng yuanbao). Reverse outer circumference presents arcing mark. From the Tiansheng era (1023-1032 AD) of the reign of Emperor Renzong (1022-1063 AD).]]>
shaosheng yuanbao). From the Shaosheng era (1094-1098 AD) of the reign of Emperor Zhezong (1085-1100 AD).]]>
zhenghe tongbao). From the Zhenghe era (1111-1118 AD) of the reign of Emperor Huizong (1100-1126 AD).]]>
kaiyuan tongbao). Reverse presents small crescent-shaped mark. Kai Yuan of indeterminate type from 621-907 AD.]]>
yuanyou tongbao). From the Yuanyou era (1086-1094 AD) of the reign of Emperor Zhezong (1085-1100 AD).]]>
yuanyou tongbao). From the Yuanyou era (1086-1094 AD) of the reign of Emperor Zhezong (1085-1100 AD).]]>
huangsong tongbao). Spans the period between the fourth (Baoyuan) and seventh (Huangyou) eras (1038-1054 AD) of the reign of Emperor Renzong (1022-1063 AD).]]>
tianxi tongbao). From the Tianxi era (1017-1022 AD) of the reign of Emperor Zhenzong (997-1022 AD).]]>
One circular coin. Square central hole. Obverse presents four corroded Chinese characters 大觀通寶 (daguan tongbao). From the Daguan era (1107-1110 AD) of the reign of Emperor Huizong (1100-1126 AD).
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yuanfeng tongbao). From the Yuanfeng era (1078-1085 AD) of the reign of Emperor Shenzong (1067-1085 AD).]]>
huangsong tongbao). Spans the period between the fourth (Baoyuan) and seventh (Huangyou) eras (1038-1054 AD) of the reign of Emperor Renzong (1022-1063 AD).]]>
zhenghe tongbao). From the Zhenghe era (1111-1118 AD) of the reign of Emperor Huizong (1100-1126 AD).]]>
Obverse presents four worn and corroded Chinese characters 元豐通寶 (yuanfeng tongbao). From the Yuanfeng era (1078-1085 AD) of the reign of Emperor Shenzong (1067-1085 AD).]]>
yuanyou tongbao). From the Yuanyou era (1086-1094 AD) of the reign of Emperor Zhezong (1085-1100 AD).]]>
yuanfeng tongbao). From the Yuanfeng era (1078-1085 AD) of the reign of Emperor Shenzong (1067-1085 AD).]]>
yuanfeng tongbao). From the Yuanfeng era (1078-1085 AD) of the reign of Emperor Shenzong (1067-1085 AD).]]>
yuanfeng tongbao). From the Yuanfeng era (1078-1085 AD) of the reign of Emperor Shenzong (1067-1085 AD).]]>
shaoxing yuanbao). Lower inner circumference of coin worn through in two places. From the Shaoxing era (1131-1162 AD) of the reign of Emperor Gaozong (1127-1162 AD).]]>
One circular coin. Approximately square central hole. Obverse presents four worn and corroded Chinese characters 元豐通寶 (yuanfeng tongbao). From the Yuanfeng era (1078-1085 AD) of the reign of Emperor Shenzong (1067-1085 AD).]]>
zhidao yuanbao). From the Zhidao era (995-997 AD) of the reign of Emperor Taizong (976-997 AD).]]>