Colored Pottery

Colored Pottery

　　Qinghai’s colored pottery has a long history. Excavated artifacts reveal over 500 ancient cultural sites from the Neolithic Age and later periods, stretching from the Huangshui River Valley in eastern Qinghai to the Qaidam Basin in the west. The Neolithic types include the Majiayao, Banshan, and Machang styles, the Chalcolithic period includes the Qijia culture, and later periods feature cultures such as the Kayue, Xindian, and Nuomuhong. Among the unearthed relics from these sites, pottery—especially colored pottery—is the most prominent. These artifacts offer insights into the cultural development of ancient Qinghai and the historical roots of its multi-ethnic communities. To meet public interest, the Qinghai Arts and Crafts Factory selected six representative pieces, scaled them down, and replicated them as a set of exquisite imitation stone-colored pottery crafts for mass production and market supply. These include a double-necked bottle from the Majiayao type excavated in Dazhuang, Minhe County; a dancing-patterned bottle from the Majiayao type found in Shangsunjiazhai, Datong; a circular-wave-patterned pot from the Majiayao type unearthed in Hetaozhuang, Minhe County; a four-ring-patterned single-handled long-necked pot from the Machang type discovered in Liuxiawan, Ledu County; and a double-knobbed basin from the Majiayao type excavated in Xinghai Road, Xining. These crafts faithfully replicate the originals, crafted with fine detail and an antique charm, offering not only artistic appreciation but also archaeological reference value. (Haixi)