Toys

These are several Yangzhou-unearthed small ceramic toys, a distinctive category of products by Changsha Kiln. The two bird-shaped ocarinas are in different sizes, with one 5.5 cm high and the other 4.6 cm, but the same posture: trying to take off with half-stretched wings, turned-around head and a sideways glance. Feathers on their wings and tails are clearly illustrated. With three holes on its upper face and sides, these two pieces are both covered all over with green glaze and adorned with brown coloring, except the bottom on which the greyish yellow porcelain body is exposed. The beast-face-shaped ocarina is in a shape similar to a ball, measuring 4 cm in height and 3.8 cm in diameter. Three holes can be found on this musical instrument, half of which is covered with green glaze with the greyish white body on the rest half exposed. The ox-shaped ocarina features a fatty bull with four short legs, one hole on the bottom side of neck and one on each side of belly. It’s greyish white body is covered with green glaze except the bottom and adorned with brown coloring.
The two dog-shaped toys, one 6.4 cm high and the other 5.2 cm, are in different postures, with one sitting on a round base, head raised looking sideways, decorated with carved lines on face, ears, beneath neck and tail, while the other crouching, looking forward with a raised head and a curly tail. Both having greyish white porcelain body, the crouching dog is covered with green glaze and embellished with brown patterns, while the sitting one with a coating of greenish-yellow glaze and brown dots on head top, beneath neck, back and tail. The bird-shaped toy, with a height of 4.3 cm, is sitting on a circular base, wings and tail decorated with shallowly-carved feathers. There is a ring attached to the bird’s back, which is convenient for it to be picked up. It’s coarse greyish yellow body is covered with green glaze and adorned with brown dots. The toy in the shape of a ball-holding child is 7.3 cm high. Clad in a round hat, the child with high nose and big ears, is holding a ball in front of his chest. The greyish white body is covered with green glaze, with decorative brown and blue dots on the child’s head, hands, back and also on the ball.