Goose-head vessel

Compressed spherical vessel surmounted by a tapered cylindrical neck that curves downward at the top, terminating into a stylized head of a goose; a circular aperture appears at the highest point behind the goose head; splayed footring encircles a countersunk base; light gray earthenware with minute traces of orange, black, and white cold-painted pigments. The form is based on a bronze vessel prototype. Such vessels gained currency by the Qin dynasty (late 3rd century BCE) and persisted into the Han dynasty. Note: A sample taken from the footring of this vessel was thermoluminescence (TL) tested at Oxford Authentication Ltd. in May 1999 and determined to be consistent with the suggested period of manufacture.