C. 206 BC-220 AD. Han Dynasty. A beautiful ceramic vessel with a glossy brown slip and a cover. The vessel comprises an elongated neck and an ovoid body supported by a cylindrical ring foot. Several bands of incised direction run around the vessel. Two rings on the shoulder are indicated as handles. The Han Dynasty, which ruled between 202 BC -220 AD, brought great prosperity and stability to China, reigning over a golden age of classical Chinese civilisation during which China saw major advances including the widespread development of a monetary economy and the invention of paper, as well as much progress in the decorative arts. Provenance: Private London collection of Asian Art; formerly in an old British collection. Acquired in Hong Kong in the early 1990s. Size: L:480mm / W:320mm ; 5.6kg