A CHINESE BURNISHED AND INCISED POTTERY COCOON JAR, HAN DYNASTY. Often referred to as a 'cocoon jar' due to the shape of its body. Its original function was that of a grain storage jar. It is quite heavily-potted, made from a fine-grained dark grey pottery and decorated with ten bands of triple incised lines vertically surrounding the body as well as raised horizontal bands around its neck and base. It has a burnished surface, very smooth to the touch. 24.5cm tall, 26cm length. Western Han Dynasty (206 BC ?AD 8).For information: similar examples are shown in the Southeast Asian Ceramic Society book 'Spirit of Han.Provenance: from a Sussex collection assembled during the 1990s.Minor shallow chips around foot. One filled in repair to rim, 2.5cm wide. Surface wear expected with age.