Asian Art website: Jar with spiral decoration

This large painted earthenware pot is representative of Neolithic painted pottery in the Banshan phase (ca. 2600–2300 B.C.) of Majiayao archaeological culture. Banshan vessels were mainly limited in shape to large bulbous pots and urns, and built by stacking coils of rolled clay that are then smoothed before firing. Two-armed spiral designs are often painted on the vessel shoulders in black and maroon paint.