Fine Large Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Ding Tripod (206 BC - AD 8)

This fine example of a painted pottery ding was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is a large example of its type, made from a fine-grained grey pottery and relatively highly-fired, having a distinct ring when tapped. The lower part stands on three long curved legs and has two curved square-cup handles on opposing sides...

Pair of Rare Chinese Sui / Early Tang Dynasty Pottery Ladies

These fine and very rare pottery ladies were made during either the Sui Dynasty (AD 581 - 518) or the early part of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). They are made from a fine-grained grey pottery and are particularly well-detailed; note the detail of the faces, the hairstyle, the folds of the clothing with the very long sleeves. Traces of the original "cold painted" surface pigment remain. 

Height 25.5 cm...

Two characters with bird beaks serving as incense holders. They are in sandstone covered with lead glassures of three colors (sancai), yellow, green and manganese, these models also have a part enamelled in white. Models with animal masks are much rarer than those with human faces and probably represent the animals of the zodiac. Good condition, almost not worn, a broken and glued head visible on photos. The glassure is finely cracked. Height: 325mm. Chinese work probably 17°, but maybe before.

1900's Japanese Makie Lacquered Wood Carved Boko Box

It is 3.5 inches (9 cm) tall by 5.7 inches (14.5 cm) wide and 4.9 inches (12.5 cm) in length. It is 237.1 gram.

It has small chips, peeling of lacquer, cracks, stains, rubbing of lacquer and gold, and surfaces wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

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This is a genuine, archaic Chinese nephrite axe or Gui scepter. The surface has the expected smooth, "waxy" feel to it. The end is sharpened (which leads me to think it was made as a prestige axe as opposed to a scepter, although the literature seems to view pieces such as this one as either/both an axe and a Gui scepter; e.g. Rawson in Chinese Jade - I've included photos of the pieces listed there for reference)...

Lovely old Burmese lacquer box with a finely woven lattice work, insert lid (I assume to keep the flies off your “tiffin”) or used to sieve. Circa 60-90 years old, it is very thin and lightweight and the body is constructed of bamboo., I acquired this in a Pagan, lacquer shop about 20 years ago. Excellent original condition with minor lacquer loss at the bottom’s edge as to be expected from a genuinely old piece. D: 30.5cm/12in and H: 16cm/6.2in.

19th Century Chinese Yixing Pewter Teapot with Calligraphy in Wood Box Signed"跂陶氏刻" Marked" 跂陶發明"

The teapot is 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) tall by 5.1 inches (13 cm) wide. The wood box is 7.2 inches (18.3 cm) tall by 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) wide. Teapot is 1.3 lb. Total weight including box is 3 Lb.

The teapot's lid has been repaired (glued back) at corners and has hairline cracks and chips. The spout is also bent and has chips and hairline cracks...

Chinese Jin Dynasty Pottery Tile - Performer (AD 1115 - 1234)

This moulded and "heavily-potted" pottery tile was made during the Jin Dynasty (AD 1115 - 1234) and has been excavated from Shanxi province in the northern region of China...

A genuine large old Rajasthani storytellers scroll of the Pabuji legend. Hand painted on thick cotton. Estimated to be early 20th century or earlier. 240 x 92 cm. Can be viewed in central London.

A Chinese, Changsha kiln, wide-mouthed jar; Tang dynasty. It is covered overall with a finely-crazed, celadon glaze which terminates above the flat base, and with decorative splashes of iron-rich glaze and applique handles. Height, 17 cm Condition: In evcavated condition. There are numerous small chips to the underside of the rim, and patches of wear to the glaze. The upper parts of the two handles are missing...

Small Satsuma earthenware incense burner in the shape of a cricket cage. Technically complex openwork work with results that are still uncertain, the fine bars of the cage have survived the test of fire without damage, then that of handling for more than 100 years. Today the object is in excellent condition. Below the mark of the Satsuma and the name Hattori who was one of the best ceramic painters of his time., allowing a precise dating. We can, on request, find out who it is. Height 14cm.

Unusual pottery bowl with hand molded snake handle. I cannot find any pieces similar in style to this although the reddish clay and heavy potting are reminiscent of Hongshan pottery. This came out of China and has a good petrichor and water absorption on the base, very old- at least 2000 to 3000 years old but probably older. W: 14cm/5.5in and H: 12cm/4.7in.

Lovely double gourd, Dehua porcelain small vase, circa late Qing or Republic Era.. Please note the third enlargement the surface appears to be smudged, this area originally had a handle that broke of and has been polished down. H: 11.3cm/4.4in and D: 6.8cm/2.9in. A simple well balanced elegant piece, suitable for a sing rose. Basic stand included.

Delightful Qing Dynasty café au lait glazed water dropper in the shape of a fish in a basket, it is quite heavy for its size and the brown glaze has a strong metallic patina possibly emulating bronze. Most likely from a Southern Kiln, in perfect condition! D: 5.7cm/2.2in and H: 7.2cm/2.8in.

Lovely Iban woman’s skirt from the Kapit region in Sarawak, circa 1940-1950. The broad center field is woven from handspun cotton and natural dyes. The red use in this is particularly rich. The narrow bands on the side are made of commercial thread and dye. This has a Bangit fruit pattern, which signifies “abundance”. There are a few minor frays and inevitable “pinholes”, but IMO the condition is good. L: 102cm/40in and W: 52cm/20.5in...

Pair of 1900's Chinese Beijing Gilt Silver Enamel Vase with Lion Heads & Rings Marked

They are 5 inches (12.7 cm) tall by 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide. They are 283.5 gram.

They are tarnished and have missing enamels, enamel stress cracks, enamel bruising, loss of gilding, bent rings, gaps at the rings, and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos)...

Old Japanese Sumida Gawa Ware Jardiniere on Pedestal with Sage & Children Marked Ishiguro Koko 石黒香々

It is 30.2 inches (76.7 cm) tall by 14 inches (35.6 cm) wide.

It has minor rubbing of paint, skip glazes, glaze crazing, and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

For another similar jardiniere on pedestal by Koko, see the book "Sumida according to us" by Herbert Karp & Gardner Pond, page 127, item 317...

This is a rare cloisonne bowl from Gonda that features 16 wireless egrets. This bowl is stoutly made and is heavy. It measures 7 inches across and is 5 1/4" tall. The condition is very good with some expected wear. The bowl has 2 very minor, under the surface lines that can be seen in the last image.

19th century Japanese tsuishu (cinnabar lacquer) netsuke carved on the front with 3 scholars under a pine tree watching a cock fight, and the back with a boy feeding a chick and a hen by a peony bush, all on carved diaper ground. Metal fitting with swinging loop for hanging, some wear to lacquer, beautiful patina. Diameter 1.84 inches.

Amuletic figure of the canine god Wepwawet depicted on the bar of a standard. The front of the sledge is curved like a billowing sail and integrates a couple of rearing uraeus cobras.
The jackal wears a dog collar, the suspension loop behind is partially preserved. This small example was intended as a protective amulet.
For a related example, cf. acc. no. 23.6.6 in the Metropolitan Museum database.
The jackal god Wepwawet, also known as ‘Opener of Paths’, helped the dece...

Hand-modeled bowl of hemispherical body with a single handle at the rim. The base rounded.
The burnished surface with a red-brown slip and purple-red bands of wavy lines that form a cross on both the inner and outer surface. Purple-red lines on the handle.
For a related example, cf. British Museum database no. 1884,1210.103.
Ceramic
Middle Cypriot ,1850 BC-1550 BC
D. 15.4 cm (6.1 in)
W. over handle 18.4 cm (7.2 in)
H. bowl 7 cm (2.8 in)
Fin...

Chinese Qing dynasty ink and color on paper painting executed in three sections to represent the protectors of Heaven, the world of humans, and the earth. The top features three Buddhas seated cross-legged on lotus thrones among clouds with their hands held in various mudra positions. The midsection holds four Bodhisattvas. On the left are Puxian holding a ruyi scepter astride an elephant and Wenshu holding a sutra scroll atop a lion. On the right riding mythical creatures are Guanyin holding a ...

Finely woven Iban women’s kain skirt, circa 1940 with “eye of the green pigeon” and bamboo pattern, from the Kapit area, Sarawak, Malaysia. Fine and tight weaves like this, indicate that owner was from a high status. There is one repair noted in enlargements. This ikat is made from all handspun and natural dyes while the colored bands are commercial thread. L: 115cm/42.5in and W: 57cm/22.5in.

Korean Joseon dynasty lacquered wood hinged scholar’s document box with brass edge brackets and brass lockplate. One shelf to the interior. 19th century. 14 3/8” long x 7 5/8” wide x 7 1/2" high. Very good, solid overall condition with great patina and typical wear and soiling from use. Ink stains and unreadable ink calligraphy are evident on the underside of the lid. There is a split in the bottom and one small chip to the interior corner of the inner shelf. A tiny pin is missing f...

You are considering an authentic set of three arc-shaped pendants from the Neolithic or Shang period, circa 2000-1500 BCE. Similar published examples can be found in Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Ching at pages 158-159 (the latter illustration showing a similar item from the collection of the British Museum). As with the other examples, these three pieces join together to form a ring. To quote Rawson: "This set of pieces belongs to a distinctive category within the very wide ran...

Bronze vase with reddish-brown patina, oblong shape with small hemmed neck and rust-colored marks.
Unidentified signature under the vase.

Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Height: 8.1 in. (20.5 cm) – diameter: 6 in. (15 cm)

Pair of amusing maki-e lacquered wooden spoons with an insect motif on the spoon, a cicada and a butterfly. Handle with braided rope pattern. Label on the back : 坧耒 ? (uncertain transcription).

Japan – 20th century
Width: 1.38 in. (3.5 cm) – length: 6.57 in. (16.7 cm)

Wooden suzuribako decorated with two hares with red eyes in gold and silver lacquer surrounded by grass.

The interior is made of negoro-nuri lacquer. This is an ancient technique, developed in the Kamakura period (1185-1333) at the Negoro temple in the ancient province of Kii (now Wakayama prefecture). It is characterized by vermilion color, made from cinnabar and showing natural brush marks. These irregular patterns are typical of the wabi-sabi aesthetic which relies on simplicity ...

Bamboo toad on a bluebell flower. The node of the wood is used as the base of the statuette.

The toad and the frog, referred to under the same term in Japanese (kaeru) are associated with good luck and wealth. Kaeru means both "toad/frog" and "coming home" in Japanese. This extension of meaning is due to the ability of the toad to return to the pond of its birth every year. A gong in the shape of a toad can thus sometimes be used as a door hammer or to protect a house. The bluebell...

Bamboo sitting toad. The node of the wood is used as the base of the statuette.

The toad and the frog, referred to by the same term in Japanese (kaeru) are associated with good luck and wealth. Kaeru means both "toad" and "coming home" in Japanese. This extension of meaning is due to the ability of the toad to return to the pond of its birth every year. A gong in the shape of a toad can thus sometimes be used as a door hammer or to protect a house.

Japan - Taishô Er...

Three-legged toad in bronze.

The three-legged toad, originating from Chinese mythology, is a Feng Shui symbol of prosperity and wealth.
Chan Chu, the three-legged toad, is mentioned by the poet Qu Yuan in The Songs of Chu. He compares the moon to a toad with a rounded body, whose three legs represent the three phases of the moon.
According to some authors, the toad on the moon is the beautiful Chang-e, transformed into an amphibian by Xiwangmu, the queen of the Western P...

Tibetan thogchag figuring Chanadordje, 3,5 x 3,5 cms

Strap made of a piece of thick leather, and cast silver and brass ornaments with turquoise.
Beautiful typical Sino-Tibetan craftsmanship including the face and hands of Kirtimukha ("face of glory").
This kind of strap was mainly used to attach a big knife.
This belt strap has obviously been repaired and remade (see pix). The turquoise have been replaced by an other old one; the silver and brass pieces are at least 19th C. L w leather : 23 cms, L of silver pieces : 8 cms.T...

A very attractive and scarce Tabloid seal, Northern Mesopotamia, c. later 4th. millenium BC.

The serpentine seal engraved with cruciform and stylized scorpio pattern. Fine thick drill.

Size: 20 x 17 mm.

Condition: Good VF Smooth wear and intact with nice earthern patination.

Comes with original Id card from 1991!

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bo...

A larger hemispheric stone seal with a dome and elaborate line below the drilling on the top, Mesopotamian, Uruk period c. 4000-3000 BC.

The seal is carved with a later version of the archaic 'grit' pattern, where it looks like horisontical script-lines. Very nicely made in an attractive and very hard green-black stone.

Size: 28 mm. in diameter, 14-15 mm. tall.

Condition: Extremely fine, wonderful earthern patina.

Comes with imprint and original Id ...

A larger serpentine stone stamp seal of the gable type, Ubaid period of Anatolia and Syria, c. 4th. millenium BC.

Recent research clearly indicates that highly advanced city cultures allready existed in the Ubaid period of Anatolia and Syria in the early 4th. millenium BC and perhaps even before that. This predates the Mesopotamian Uruk period, so it's a question who inspired who?.

Nice seal in hand engraved with a horned animal.

Size: 35 mm. long and 23 mm. wide...