This gallery comes to you from a distinguished professor, Dr. H. Gene Blocker and his daughter, Dr. Forrest Blocker of aesthetics & philosophy, and boasts pieces of quality similar to those found at notable auction houses such as Sotheby's and Christie's.

Each piece is described by time period, price and quality, and condition.  Time period: Chinese historical periods are generally referred to by various "dynasties"  (Han dynasty, Tang  dynasty, and so on), but in between the major dynasties were various "warring states" periods in which many separate, short-lived kingdoms sprang up and disappeared. For your interest and amusement, Professor Blocker offers a description of the history of funerary pieces throughout these dynasties.  In this website, ancient Chinese funerary art has been divided into three sections: Neolithic/Warring States, Han/Wei Jin, and Tang/Sui/Song/Ming. Price and quality: We offer items in a range of prices to suit a range of buyers from serious collectors to first time enthusiasts.  Prices depend on age, size, rarity, condition, amount of restoration, and aesthetic quality.  These variables are fully described for each piece.  For example, a piece  which is aesthetically interesting may have been extensively restored; or one  which is completely intact may be rather plain and aesthetically uninteresting.  To  a very large extent preferences among these  different quality grades is up to each buyer.  Serious  collectors will not be  interested in anything that is not rare, in very good  condition, and aesthetically interesting, while someone looking for a striking accent piece would be more interested in a large, colorful  piece with a dramatic pose; and some first time buyers may simply be intrigued with the thought of  owning a genuine Han dynasty musician roughly 2,000 years old which may or may not have  entertained an entombed Chinese warlord! Please enjoy browsing the pictures and descriptions and you may find just what you are looking for! Condition: Describing the condition of each  piece means reporting if and where the piece has been broken and restored.  Over the centuries, some of the fragile after-firing paint has faded or been washed off entirely.  When Chinese farmers find these pieces today, they often reattach broken heads or arms, and occasionally retouch the painted eyes and mouth.  Sometimes this is done carefully and sometimes crudely.  All this is fully described. Return: home