The title does not lie, this is one against which all others might be measured. A celebratory sake set consisting of three cups and a stand enclosed in their original lacquered wooden boxes. The cups are over the top, decorated with plum pine and bamboo in taka-maki-e gold over red replete with bits of kirigane gold and ke-uchi details. The cups are equally gorgeous on top and bottom, the design extending even inside the foot ring...

Late Corinthian plate with nice polychrome painting, dating to 5th - 4th century BC.

Very attractive dish that was made with two holes in the rim for hanging it.

Size: 16,9 cm.

Condition: Nice VF, one fragment reattached and restored nicely.

Ex. pre-2nd. world war Bavarian collection.

Futonji (bedding) with tsutsugaki phoenix and paulownia tree design which is made of hand-spun cotton and vegetable indigo dye and colored with pigments. Phoenix is an imaginary and sacred bird by Chinese lore which perches on paulownia tree and eats fruits of bamboo. Tsutsugaki technique is excellent with fine freehand line. In excellent condition. Meiji period. 134cm x 162cm

This antique Iga vase is a true beauty, made of wonderful native Iga clay.

The vase was made between 1800 - 1850 during the later Edo Period and is in great antique condition. No chips or repairs. It comes with an old wooden box and an old cloth bag (which has a small torn part).

Iga ware's origins are believed to date to the second half of the 7th century and 8th century A.D...

Tang dynasty 9 - 10th century Changsha bowl with possibly Arabic motif, good glaze good condition no damage no chip crack or restoration small glaze nick at outer rim, please see picture for detail, size: 14 cm diameter.

A quintessential 16th century design in worn gold covers all the dark surfaces of this lacquered wooden box dating from the Momoyama period. Here auspicious cranes and turtles, reported to live a thousand years, laze among pines. About the lid boaters enjoy leisure seas. Ichimonji checkerboard patterns rising diagonally up the sides alternate with garden trees, the ends decorated with wisteria and ivy. The box retains the original inner tray in festive red decorated with garden grasses...

Song dynasty longquan celadon with green glaze washer bowl, good condition no damage no chip no crack no restoration, please see picture for detail, size: 12.5 cm diameter.

A superb massive gold ring of 22+ carat gold with convex gemstone of garnet, depicting a lion tearing a deer, above it a crescent, in front of it a stylized plant. Graeco-persian, 2nd half of the 6th century BC.

Stunning quality engraving and a heavy gold ring, suitable for wearing today.

Ring size 9.5 (US), T (UK), 21 (F).

Weight: 13,72g.!

Provenance: Gert Cleff, Wuppertal; ex Gorny & Mosch, München Auction 137, 2004, Lot 230...

Rare Red Raku Summer Tea Bowl named "Yuki," crafted by Houshousai in 1861.

Dimensions:
Height: 6cm
Width: 16.5cm

Condition:
In excellent antique condition, with no signs of damage. Comes with the original wooden box from the period, bearing detailed notes about the artist.

Houshousai, a distinguished tea master from Kanazawa during the late Edo period, enjoyed close camaraderie with affluent merchants such as Choemon, Enemon, and Gohei...

Two boxes with 18 black and gold decorated moulded ink sticks showing the 18 Lohans. Boxes 29x20 cm. All sticks in excellent condition, no cracks or chips. Undated, estimated to be early 20th century. Can be seen in central London and shipped worldwide.

Found in the Philippines. Featuring a globular body with carved decoration, supported by a short foot with two flanged wings on opposite sides of its body and a goose formed spout opposite a tail shaped handle, all underneath a rider which possibly represents Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, whose vehicle (Vahana) is the sacred goose (Hamsa), a symbol of purity and divine knowledge for Hindu and Buddhist believers...

A parcel-gilt silver cricket box and its cover. The body of the box is decorated with embossed flowers in cartouches, and its base is pierced with an intricate lattice design. The lid is also decorated with embossed concentric decorations, at the center with flowers in an octogonal frame, and around the rim with large fowers of various forms. China, early 19th cetury, maybe earlier. Diameter: 7.7 cm. Height: 4.4 cm. Very good condition...

A hawk rests on an elaborate perch, the feathers fluffed up, each uniquely carved on this rare okimono from the Mushiake kilns of Okayama prefecture. It comes in an ancient kiri-wood box. The notation on the side of the box states it was received in late Meiji 27 (1894) from the former Head of the Okayama fief Ikeda Mochimasa. The name of the recipient has been redacted, as is often the case when things change hands in Japan. It is 24 x 7.4 x 29 cm (9 x 3 x 11-1/2 inches)...

Small porcelain dish from Japan. Decor of birds in flight in a landscape with trees and flowers painted in enamels and gilding. The porcelain is exceedingly thin similar to eggshell porcelain. Three Chinese characters are enamelled in red below, probably Kutani's mark. The designs are neat and of the best quality. Very fragile but good condition. D:138mm.

Geese and Reeds Painting (Noando) mounted on luxurious gold silk by Yang Ki Hun aka Seokyeon (1843-1897) from Pyeongyang, signed Seokyeon. Yang Ki Hun's signature 'boneless' style (painting without outlines, using ink washes) beautifully captures light and shade. The literal meaning of 'noando' is reed and geese painting, but it is a play on words, as 'no' means both reed and old, and 'an' means both geese and comfort ('do' means painting)...

The large characters in the center of this scroll "南無妙法蓮華経" are pronounced as "Namu Myōho Renge Kyō” in English — a phrase associated with Nichiren Buddhism that is often recited as a mantra, expressing devotion to the Lotus Sutra. This sutra is one of the main tenants of Nichiren and is thought by devotees to be the ultimate law and truth of the universe...

Found in the Philippines. Featuring a circular body, resting on a short straight foot and is decorated with a carved central floral spray, adorned with combed lines. The box is covered overall in a pale green celadon glaze, except for its base, which is left fully unglazed and partially burnt to red. Measurements: diameter (3.9"inches) across. Condition: in perfect condition. No repairs, UV light checked...

Super interesting massive amulet from an extremely old private collection, incl. the original envelope with collectors notes (late 19th.-early 20th. century).

The amulet in the shape of a double Uraeus (we think) and with an unidentified carthouche / hieroglyphs on both sides. Beautiful light torquise faiance.

Size: c. 38 mm. tall, incl. the loop.

Condition: Extremely fine and intact.

Provenance: David Utzon Frank collection, ex. Bruun Rasmussens auc...