An unusual mask with gaping jaws and flattened features covered in red and black lacquer with golden teeth and eyes dated a lucky day in the 6th month of Tenmei 2 (1782). The mask is of carved wood covered in cloth over which has been applied layers of colored lacquer, gold and gofun (powdered shell) to form the white eyebrows. It is quite unusual in configuration. Most masks are open at the back, however this is carved with curling hair all the way down to the neck...

A rare and superb condition iron key of an unusual length, European, Late Medieval, c. 14th century or a slightly earlier.

A large and impressive key of the c. 13th.-14th. century design with an oval bow and the stem ending in a long spike, but with the wide slotted bit placed just below the finial. A very complicated slot, possibly from a large oak casket.

Size: 14,1 cm...

A large and very early key, European, Late Medieval, c. 12th.-13th. century.

The key has a doomed bow and the stem ending in a long spike. The wide and unusual large bit with a complicated slot, probably a castle passage door key.

Size: 15,2 cm.

Condition: Very fine, tiny loss and othervise completely intact.

Ex. Important old Danish collection of keys.

Excessively rare and superb condition bronze and iron key, European, Early renaissance, 14th.-15th. century (c.1380-1450).

Very interesting heavy bronze bow of a Gothic design and the stem and bit made of iron. A very complicated bit of an S-shape.

The key was probably from a money box or jewellery box, due to the complicated bit and heavy design.

Size: 11 cm. - a large and heavy key for the period.

Condition: Extremely fine, lovely metal...

A striking baluster from vase decorated with sinister crows hunched in the silhouette of a leafless winter tree signed on the base Satsuma Kinunzan and dated on side the fifth month of 1911. This fits in perfect with our Kwaidan theme this month, the brooding figures austere against the bleak winter sky, something ominous, a lingering threat...

A delicate kiri-wood tray decorated with a fledgling among grass puffed up against the cold by important 20th century artist Domoto Insho enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kosuzume Seifu (Small Sparrow, Pure Wind) and signed inside Insho Saku. It is 19 x 19 x 2.5 cm (7-1/2 x 7-1/2 x 1 inch) and is in excellent condition.

Reddish limestone. Animal battle scene with crossing bulls and crescent moon standard, worshippers in between. A larger seal in an attractive red-orange stone. Isin-Larsa period, Old Babylonian, ca. 2002-1594 BC.

Height 26 mm and diameter is 13 cm., so fairly thick.

Condition: Very fine, smooth wear but intact with a nice patina.

Provenance: The Karl Müller collection, Germany 1950-1977. Comes with COA and his imprint.

A nice large/thick faience Ushabti, Third Intermediate Period, 21/22th dynasty (ca 1085-713BC)

A blue-green faience shabti, wearing the headband and two hoes. Inscribed with clear hieroglyphs at the lower front. Details are added in black.

Size: 128 mm. tall.

Condition: Near very fine, intact but with hairline reattached feet and some minor losses and corrosion with much uncleaned deposits.

Ex. Cristian Spinu Collection, Ex...

A very fine and elegant Chinese octagonal lacquer and Pewter TEA CADDY, 19th Century, depicting various figures in a Palace Setting. Overall in good condition with minor inconsequential signs of use due to the considerable age. Size: L. 16 cm. (6 1/4").

Cotton cloth with katazome pattern which is called "Narumi-Kongata", imitating Arimatsu-Narumi shibori pattern. It is called "Urumi-zome among craftspeople. It uses plural stencils and requires high dyeing technique. In good condition but has two mending patches for the cut which used to be the neck part and in one side of selvedges. The Meiji period (1868 to 1912). W:33cm, L:180cm

A striking image of an itinerant monk carrying his few earthly possessions though the cedar forest in draped in a mino straw-raincoat and hat, all performed with colored thread in silk embroidery. Behind glass, it has been well protected over the last 100 plus years. The wide dark frame is stained Nara (a form of oak) emulating the arts and crafts style. The inner joints have shrunk, a testament to age...

A rare type of iron key from box or cabinet very, European c. later 16th. century.

An interesting key with a disc shaped decoration on the bow and complicated stem and bit.

Size: 95 mm. long.

Condition: Near VF, some corrosion.

Ex. Danish Collection of keys.

A very nice and elaborate iron key of the Venethian openwork style, fitting for a casket or jewelry box, Venice, 15th.-16th. century.

An interesting version of this type with a complicated iron cut bow with an octagonal web motif and a spendid finial for a key-ring at the top. Nice piece with remnants of copper inlays in the bow and stem.

Size: 98 mm. long.

Ex. Danish Collection of keys.

A massive and very rare key from a large iron strongbox or bank box, probably Germany, c. later 16th. century AD.

Probably made in German with a complicated bit and very large size.

We've added a picture of a larger male hand holding the key to show the proportions of the piece.

Lenght: 17 cm. and the bow is around 8 cm. wide. The weight is stunning 476 grams.

Condition: Good very fine, fine metal with a thick and stable iron patina.

Ex...

Cloth with katazome (stencil-resist dye) which is hand spun and vegetable indigo and pigment dye. In good condition, however slightly colors faded. 19th century. W:32.5cm, L:180cm

Cotton cloth with "Kikai-suji shibori", Machine-pleated Stripes and vegetable indigo dye. Kikai-suji shibori was developed in 1910s and it was very popular then. Vegetable indigo dye. In excellent condition. 1910s to 1930 W:30cm, L:144cm

A very unusual basket made of pine cones bound together on edge enclosed in the original wooden box dated New Years of Showa Six (1931) titled Chiyo no Matsukasa (Cones of the Ancient Pine). The basket is 20 cm (8 inches) diameter, 33.5 cm (13-1/4 inches) tall and comes with the original bamboo insert. It is in overall fine condition. I have never seen another like it.

A sage admires pine boughs billowing out over the waves from his seat upon a stone carved into this fine bamboo tea container capped with a wooden lid opposite the archaic characters Seishin (Pure heart) signed Chikuzan on the bottom and enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Take-sei Chatsubo (Bamboo tea container). The fine kiri-wood box has been decorated on all surfaces with a landscape of Mu-chi style forested hills and a long verse by Chikuzan...