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Machang painted pottery jar with frog design

Tags: Machang | Neolithic | pottery

The Machang type of painted pottery was primarily spread in the area east of Qinghai and west of Gansu province, 4,350 to 4,000 years ago, during the late Neolithic age. Machang ware was named after Machang, Mingho County, Qinghai Province where it was first discovered. It represents the later period of Majiayao culture. This Machang painted pottery jar with the double-frog design is yellowish brown. Although the opening of the jar is small, the figure is broad and the body of the jar has a design with two similar frogs and a pair of ears. There is a purplish red ring with a wide black stripe on the neck, waist and belly of the jar. The stroke of the brush was strong and precise. There is no design on the bottom half of the body. This pot is of the early Machang type. Most utensils like this that have a small mouth and a wide belly, are for holding water. For convenience, a pair of ears hang down slightly on the waist of the jar and the bottom was made small and flat, so that, once the user had scooped up the water, they could place the jar on their head and support it with their hands. Pottery at that time was mostly stored on the floor, so it was usually just painted on the top half.

 

National Museum of History