A large Persian book cover made of papier-mâché with leather-binding. Both sides hand-painted in polychrome gouache and gold under lacquered varnish. The outsides showing a dignitary with consort on a throne surrounded by musicians and a festival with horsemen, musicians and veiled women, both depictions framed by inscriptions. The interior with scrolls of tendrils in gold on red ground. Condition: some craquelure, flaking and wear, traces of age, some retouchings...

This is a 19th century, finely hand carved Japanese Netsuke, round, one-part domed, in slightly sunken relief, depicting a bust portrait of Daruma with big hossu. Beautiful golden-yellow patina on the reverse. Signed Shinsai. Netsuke measures 1.65 inches (4.2cm) in diameter, and 0.56 inches (1.4cm) thick. It is in excellent condition, as sown in the posted photos.

19th century netsuke of a reclining deer with its head turned back, hooves bent beneath its body. Elegant carving with pure clean lines, excellent hairwork, wonderful depiction of volume of the deer body, excellent head with finely carved antlers, eyes are inlaid with dark horn, beautiful patina. Old replacement to its right ear. Signed RANICHI in oval reserve on the bottom - this excellent carver is discussed in detail on p...

19th century Japanese Asakusa school staghorn kiseruzutsu - tobacco pipe case - of elegant simple shape with medium relief carving of a jar containg an ikebana arrangement with lotus leaf and 2 different flowers, channel for hanging carved under the upper flower. Excellent carving and etching, beautiful wear and patina, clever use of outer texture of the antler as element of design, in great condition. Length 8 inches.

19th century netsuke of recumbent mother Shishi with a Young one that is playfully climbing on her back. They, both seemed to be on the alert with their eyes wide open. Excellent form a symmetry, great rendition of their curly manes and tails, from an artist that was quite adept and proficient at carving animals, according to George Lazarnick, in his book “Netsuke and Inro Artist and How to Read their Signatures...

Japanese samurai hanpo cheek guard armor. Black lacquered iron with 4 lamellar neck guard, laced with dark blue silk cords. The cheek guard is lacquered in red. Mounted on steel plates.

Edo period 19th century

Dimensions: 7" x 4" x 7" (10 1/2" height on stand)

A rectangular playing card of the "as nas" game, made of papier-mache and hand-painted in ink, watercolor and gold under lacquered varnish. With clumsy depiction of a lady with two children within an oval frame embellished with foil. Description of the game by the Brooklyn Museum: "The full set of cards for the game of âs nâs, a gambling game similar to poker, contains twenty cards, with four each of five suits...

19th century Japanese iron mae-kanagu (tobacco pouch clasp fitting) depicting two toys - a hobby horse and a bird on wheels. Iron is notoriously difficult to work with. Very nice design, wonderful detailing, gold inlays. Length 1 1/2 inches.

Decorated with four stylized panels revealing the Buddha on the lotus throne, the background is painted with flower and leafy scrolls, with a mark reads “Yung Cheng” on the bottom.

Age: Chinese, Qing dynasty, 19th century
Measurement: Diameter 20 C.M. / Height 25 C.M.
Condition: With a cracked line starting from the mouth rim to the upper part of the jar. Please refer to the enlargement photos for more details...

Width: 9 cm (3.6 in)
Height: 2.7 cm (1.1 in)

High quality Satsuma lidded pot by Ryozan; raised gilt and enamel millefleur decoration covering all upper surfaces; signed; excellent condition

19th century mixed material netsuke in kagamibuta (mirror lid) form. The top is mounted with a bronze or shakudo galloping horse, gilding to the eye and spots on its body, superb crisp work. Beautifully captured sense of motion, great patina, old age lines, swinging metal loop on the back for the cord, compressed dust on the surface. Length 1 3/8 inches.

This type of menpo would have fitted a formal and archaic style gosuku with silk lacing and large sode style of the Heian period. The menpo is lacquered in a dark brownish black with stylized wrinkles. The ears are pierced with plum blossom configuration, turned strap holders, and a vent hole. The nose plate is well rendered with horse hair mustache and hook-holes insertion. The interior of the mask is lacquered in red...

19th century netsuke of the famous warrior and statesman Takeshiuchi no Sukune cradling a boy on one hand, and a kneeling man with a sword and wearing a eboshi hat. The boy is the son of the Empress Jingo and is the future Emperor Ojin, to whose education Takeshiuchi devoted his later life. Superbly carved, great faces, elaborate hair and clothing arrangement and excellent textile patterns...

19th century lacquer on wood mask netsuke of an oni. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black starts showing, and then wood, thus adding yet another color to the piece. Signed SHUSEN on the back - for information on the artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 1012. Height 1 11/16 inches.

Description: Fine antique Persian Brass bowl, late Quajar period, well designed with a decorated lid with fine engraved storks in different position surrounded with floral design. The craftsmanship is very impressing. Measurements: 1 1/4 inches high and 3 inches in diameter in good condition.

19th century marine material ball shaped ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in the round with a praying mantis crouching among leaves and plants including a chrysanthemum and several hozuki (Chinese lantern fruit), central hole with terminals surrounded by carved florets. Wonderful carving, excellent staining, beautiful wear and warm patina. Height 5/8 inches.

Antique Japanese idoguruma (well pulley) made of Oribe ware ceramic. Glazed with traditional Oribe brown floral motifs and green drips on a buff color ground. The pulley wheel is attached to it's original keyaki (elm) wood frame. Wonderful age and patina.

Age: Edo Period (early 1800's)

Dimensions: 11 3/4" wide diameter x 30 1/4" total length

The origins of the hookah come from the north western provinces of India along the border of Pakistan in Rajasthan and Gujarat nearly a millennia back. In Persia, before the age of cigar and cigarette, hookah was used for generations and generally they were made from clay. The aristocrats and wealthy had the upper section of their hookah made from silver and the base was porcelain or crystal...