This fine-grained earthenware in the form of a bag with handles has an unusual shape. It is beaten into shape with paddle, burnished and painted with black and brown pigments. The vessel has decorations of geometric bands and cross-hatching designs.The decoration (pigments and designs) is typical of Yangshao Culture wares, however, the shape is unusual. This pottery vessel was probably an early attempt at an anthropomophic shape in contrast to the wide variety of utility forms comprising jars, ewers, bowls among others. The western Yangshao culture also known as Majiayao culture developed in several phases for over one thousand years in Gansu, Qinghai and Ningxia provinces. Earlier Majiayao designs with parallel, curving and cross-hatched lines were painted on buff or reddish pottery as seen in this example.
