A RARE NEOLITHIC POTTERY JAR Majiayao culture, Banshan type, mid-3rd millennium B.C.Important works of art from an American private collectionA RARE NEOLITHIC POTTERY JARMajiayao culture, Banshan type, mid-3rd millennium B.C.With high rounded shoulder tapering to a narrow foot and flat base, a pair of loop handles at the waist, the short straight neck decorated with crimped "piecrust" borders, the same application producing two rows of large triangular patterns and a highly stylized human figure on each side, with two rows of applied borders at the waist and another two rows near the foot, the buff pottery body burnt orange-red and black 18in (45.8cm) high; 20 1/2in (52.3cm) across including handlesProvenanceChinese Porcelain Company, New York, March 2006It is extremely rare to see crimped decoration on pottery jars of Majiayao culture. The present example probably was made in the slightly later Banshan phase. The result of the thermoluminescence test is consistent with the dating of this piece, Oxford Authentication number C106f53.