Lot 102. A large green-glazed pottery three-storey watchtower, Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD); 77cm (30 3/8in) high. Estimate £ 6,000 - 8,000 (€ 6,800 - 9,000). Unsold. © Bonhams.

The square building rising on sturdy stilts from a circular pond of ducks, fish and geese within a straight-sided circular basin ending with an everted rim, the upper storeys with figures holding crossbows and curved knives, standing on the openwork balconies, beneath overhanging ridged roofs, covered overall with a rich olive-green glaze with patches displaying a brilliant silver iridescence.

Note: Pottery models of watchtowers and pavilions were typically manufactured for internment in the highest-ranking tombs of the Eastern Han dynasty and greatly varied in height, number of storeys, architectural features and types of animals and human figures portrayed. During this time, improved methods of construction involving the use bricks and wood made it possible to devise tall towers. While some of the towers dating to this period were heavily fortified and thus constructed for security purposes, others were surrounded by animals and birds, such as the present one, and appear to represent pleasure pavilions for the Han elites to engage in hunting game birds.

Compare with a green-glazed model of a watchtower, Eastern Han dynasty, in the Cleveland Art Museum, Ohio, acc.no.1989.71. A similar green-glazed pottery of a watchtower was sold at Sotheby's New York, 20 March 2002, lot 37.

Watchtower, China, Eastern Han dynasty (25-220), earthenware with lead glaze, Diameter: 39 cm (15 5/16 in.); Overall: 54.3 cm (21 3/8 in.). The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 1989.71. © The Cleveland Art Museum.

Bonhams. FINE CHINESE ART, 8 Nov 2018, 10:30 GMT,LONDON, NEW BOND STREET