What kinds of designs decorated Yangshao pottery?

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Neolithic Banshan pottery: funerary urn — Chinese pottery Painted Pottery funerary urn, Neolithic Banshan phase, c. 3000 bce, from Yangshao, Henan province, China; in the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm. Height 13.2 inches (33.5 cm).

The Yangshao culture, often referred to as the Painted Pottery culture, is characterized by funerary storage jars decorated primarily on their upper halves. These vessels feature a diverse array of designs executed in black and red pigments using sweeping, rhythmic brushwork.1

The decorative motifs found on Yangshao pottery include:

Geometric patterns: These include various whorls, volutes, and sawtooth designs.1
Representational imagery: Pottery from sites such as Banpo features schematized depictions of fish, birds, deer, and plants, which reflect themes related to hunting and gathering.1
Human figures: Some designs appear to represent a human face or mask.1

Over time, the artistic style of the Yangshao culture evolved from these representational designs toward linear abstraction, occasionally incorporating symbolic references.1