Mee Lee

Unknown

Well

private collection

This red pottery bird-shaped vessel is a fine example of the Gansu Qijia culture (circa 2000 BC). Made entirely of red clay, it measures 20 cm in length, 5 cm in width, and 11.5 cm in height. The shape resembles a bird spreading its wings, and its surface is decorated with grid and diagonal line patterns, which are both representational and ornamental. The Qijia culture is one of the early important Neolithic cultures in northwest China, known for its pottery production and intricate designs. This bird-shaped vessel may have served as a symbol for rituals, prayer for rain, or spiritual beliefs, reflecting the ancestors' observations of nature as well as the aesthetic pursuits and primitive religious feelings of social groups. It is a vivid manifestation of the artistic creativity and belief systems of the Qijia people.

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