Alexandria, VA had a thriving salt-glazed stoneware industry throughout most of the 19th Century. Many pieces are marked with the makers name and "ALEXa" or "DC/ALEXa". Some common makers were John Swann, B.C. Milburne, H.C. Smith and E.J.Miller (a retailer). We are always interested in purchasing examples of Alexandria stoneware. If you have something you would like to sell, please send us a photo including the makers mark, size, condition and the price (we do not make offers).
This unique antique Japanese vase with four handles has a creamy grayish colored body with crackles and numerous pinholes. A couple of crackles are missing (shown in the photo) at the foot. It is 11 1/2 inches tall, circa early 1900s.
Strikingly beautiful Japanese Nishijin obi. The style of the obi is the most formal and expensive style which is called maru obi; the design covers front and back, from one end to the other end. This is an older obi than it looks. The colors are vibrant yet elegant. The design
is for the joyous occasion with cranes, hand drums, flowers, pines and repeated pattern of waves (sei kai ha) in gold.
Measurements:
This is a beautiful antique Japanese Imari bowl in excellent condition, no chips, hairlines, nor repairs.
The measurements of this bowl is 8 1/4 inches in diameter and 3 1/2 inches high and very solid (heavy). Signed.
Late 19th century dark wood card case covered with a carved floral pattern. Good condition.
H: 4 ¼ inches, W: 3 inches
Early 20th century Chinese Blanc de Chine. A group of four women gathered around a lotus blossom playing music. Good condition.
H: 9 ½ inches, W: 7 inches
19th century nephrite carving of a fisherman holding a fishing pole in one hand and two fish in the other hand. A basket is sitting on the side. Very nice carving in good condition.
H: 4 inches, W: 2 ½ inches, D: 1 ¾ inches
17th century S. E. Asian pottery. Dark brown glaze covers 2/3 of the entire body. The bottom shows the light brown clay. The dragon design on the top is provincial and primitive. There is a chip from kiln firing.
H: 8 ½ inches, D: 5 ½ inches
Japanese Edo period (1615~1868) a sage standing on the ground covered by bamboo leaves. It is signed by Kawahara and dated 1824. The base has been repaired. It is in good condition.
H: 11 ¼ inches, W: 7 inches, D: 3 ½ inches
Meiji period Japanese bronze vases. Silver and copper inlaid design depicting a long-tailed rooster in a plum tree. Signed by ¡°Ichinori¡±. Maker¡¯s seal is on the bottom. They are in good condition. H: 5¡±, W: 2¡±
Han Dynasty (200 B.C.~220 A.D.) dark green glazed bowl with cloud and crane design. Small chips on the rim. Outside there are three stacking marks from firing. Iridescent parts appear inside the bowl. It is in good condition. H: 3 ¼ inches, Diam: 6 ¾ inches
Meiji period Japanese bronze vase. Silver bamboo inlaid design. Signed by ¡°Nobuyoshi¡±. Maker¡¯s stamp is on the bottom. It is in good condition. H: 5 inches, W: 2 inches
Han Dynasty (200 B.C.~220 A.D.) green glazed burial candle holders. The entire body of each piece shows an iridescent sheen. Each one has small air hole for firing. They are very pleasant and in good condition. H: 5 inches, W: 4 ¼ inches
Late 19th to early 20th century Japanese Bizen Tokkuri (sake bottle). Pinched form with impressed Daikoku (one of the Seven Gods). Perhaps intentionally thrown with an imperfection. It is in good condition. H: 7 ½ inches, W: 3 ½ inches
Han Dynasty (200 B.C.~ 220 A.D.) 5-spout iridescent glaze vase. Beige and olive green glazes cover half the body. It is an extremely rare piece and in perfect condition. H: 10 inches, W: 7 inches
Old Kyoto Nishijin obi. This obi is one of the 5 favorite obis from my collection - we have over 200 obis. It is almost impossible to find a obi like this today. The owner of the store in Tokyo where this obi was purchased once said that single good obi was coming out from one household when they go out knocking on the doors in the old town. The store had gone through changes since and no longer carries antique textiles...
Amazingly beautiful antique Japanese obi. This is a very high quality Nishijin obi. The condition is new with basting stitches. Very fine gold threads are woven into the base silk adding a subtle but shinny look to this obi (tan color comes from this). Crystal clear sky to turquoise blue, beautiful earth tone shades of purple to pink and moss green, you must see to believe this beauty...
Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368~1615) 3-color glazed chests (or trunks). Part of the body of each piece shows an iridescent sheen. There are a few chips on both chests. They are 4 ½ inches tall, 5 ¼ inches long and 3 inches wide.
Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368~1615) 3- color glazed altar table. The top is not glazed and the rest of the body shows an iridescent sheen. It is 6 ½ inches tall, 9 ¾ inches long and 6 inches wide. Excellent condition.
Chinese Han Dynasty (200 B.C.~220 A.D.) green glazed burial candle holders. Both pieces have an iridescent sheen over the bodies. They are in very good condition with a few small chips.
H: 4 ¼ inches, W: 2 ¼ inches
Chinese Song Dynasty (960~1270) brown iron glazed oil or sauce storage jar of rounded shape, boldly thrown and shaped, with spout. Good condition. H: 12 inches, Diam: 12 inches
This is a beautiful old Japanese maru obi with the design throughout on front and back. It is the kind of obi that we no longer see them produced. The white area is rich white satin and is whiter than shown in the photos. 12-1/4" wide x 154" long. Early 1900.
This is a very well carved early 20th century ivory fan. The front is carved as grapes and leaves; the back and ribs are plain. The loop which holds the fan ribs together also is made of ivory. It is 7 ¾ inches long and 13 ½ inches wide (open). The silk ribbon is a replacement. It is in great condition.
This is a beautiful example of an old Kyoto Yuzen dyeing. In this kimono, you can see the white lines around the designs, the very characteristic of Yuzen dye. This is where the rice paste is used to resist the dye and is later washed off. The dye on the silk bleeds. By outlining or covering the design area with the paste, the dye artists can work with the design more freely in detail than in the older pre-Yuzen method, which simply uses dip dying and/or embroidery...
Please see Trocadero#38274 for details.
A hexagonal Chinese covered dish, decorated in overglaze
enamels win the Famille Jaune pallette. The motifs seen in the shaped collar
(in the form of a ryui fungus) around the lid are Buddhist precious objects.
the flowers are those usually found on such porcelains and include hawthorn
(prunus), lotus, orchid, peony, chrysanthemum, etc. The mask handles on the
sides would originally have had wire carriers fitted...
This Chinese vase comes from Canton from the end of the 19th century or perhaps the
first few years of the 20th century. The shape is termed onion neck for obvious
reasons and derives from Delft forms made in Holland in the 17th century.
The bright overglaze enamel colors are typical of export wares of the era
and the subject matter of boys with balloons containing characters
meaning "prosperity" and "good luck".
This VASE is Best DESCRIBED as FANTASTIC. Acquired from a SUPERLATIVE ESTATE of a Maryland JUDGE who liked the BEST, this is a CARVED SODALITE HARDSTONE VASE. In Two Pieces the BOTTOM section Depicts a PHOENIX
and a MAIDEN; the Second Side has QUAN YIN and a CHILD. The TOP Depicts a CARVED DRAGON. The CARVING is EXCEPTIONAL with much PIERCED Work Top to Bottom/ Side to Side including Two FROGS on LILLY PADS at the Shoulders of the Vase...
This is an old silk fukusa from Meiji period (1868-1912). This type of fukusa is a covering placed over a gift at the time of a gift-giving ceremony. Lined with a deep red crepe silk, this fukusa is almost in perfect condition.
Pine trees are considered as sacred in Japan. Here, an ancient pine tree is mostly done with the gold couching, overlaying of threads (wrapped in gold) rather than going in and out of the base fabric...
Early 20th century Japanese square satsuma plate is 7 ¾ inches by 8 inches. It has a raised floral and peacock design with houses and a lake in the distance. It is signed ¡°Hododa¡± and is in great condition.
I thik this is Japanese (?) candlesticks dated from the Meiji period (1863 - 1912). Some holes. The biggest one is shown in the enlargement #7. These are generally
caused by too much dampness in Japan. 17 1/2" high.
Old Japanese decorative roof tile, Onigawara, depicting the legend of Jo and Uba, spirits hunting in the pine trees of Takasago. They symbolize the harmonious marriage and long life together. This tile was probably on the roof of the traditional wedding place once. Dimensions are approx. 11 1/2" high x 18 1/2" width and 5" depth, 14 pounds.
This old wood netsuke figure is 3 inches tall and 1 inch wide. It depicts a long haired, bearded sage (or hermit) holding a staff. It is not signed and is in great condition.
This middle or late 19th century snuff bottle has a white background and is hand painted in copper red and cobalt blue with an old sage and his servant. It is 3 inches tall and 1½ inches wide. The cap and spoon are replacements (not in the picture). It is in good condition.
Japanese female mask in the style of a Noh mask. This face may have been considered beautyiful many years back, but now it carries a heavy-duty insult to any ladies if they were to be called Otafuku-chan or Okame-san in Japanese. Otafuku-kaze is the mumps and there are popular snack beans called Otafuku-mame, shaped exactly like this face.
Otafuku simply means “much happiness”. Also known as Okame or Uzume, this face has been the symbol of good wishes for health and happiness...
The shape of this oval Japanese Arita dish derives from European forms. The
combination of colors (Celadon and blue & white) is known to be produced from 1780 – 1820, a late Edo example. The dimensions: 7 1/2" x 6"