This wonderful Hu shape vase is from the Eastern Han dynasty, 25-220 AD.

This vase is 16 cm in height, and about 12 cm. in diameter. The body is of red clay, as seen in the chips on the bottom.

The vase is heavy potted, and the rim shows three spur markings. I think it was fired upside down, because of some glaze on the bottom. But it is possible that another piece was stacked on top of it in the kiln.

The glaze is a green lead glaze, and is crazed finely. It is cleaned extensively, so it looks quite shiny. Some grit is still attached, maybe because it is fired onto it.

The glaze shows subtle crazing, under magnifying the little parts individually catch the light. These wares were made as grave-goods, the lead based glazes are poisonous.