The poem etched on the side of this exceptional piece reads: "As a pastime ― bringing clumsy, fragile things to sell ― at Uruma Market ― how lonely!"  A very significant poem as it conveys a bit of irony; for the Edo period nun who inscribed this poem would go on to create a legacy of art, beauty, and philosophy that endures even today...

Chinese Republic period shoushan (soapstone) mountain carved with trees, temples, old sages, Budai, flying birds, and an elephant all stretching along the path to the top. Custom wood stand. 9” high (10 1/2" on the stand) x about 7” wide x 2” deep. Early 20th century. Very good overall condition with some scratches in the stone and typical wear evident. From a Sun City West, Arizona collection.

1930's Chinese 18K Gold Pearl Beads Bracelet Marked

It is 5.6 inches (14.2 cm) in inner circumference by 1.97 inches (5 cm) in inner diameter. The pearl is 3.9mm-4.8 mm. The weight is 13.8 gram.

It has surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

Our Guarantee: We stand behind all of the items that we sell. That is to say, if you purchase an item from us and are unhappy with it for any reason, return it for a 100% refund of the amount you originally paid...

Meiji (1868-1912) Japanese Satsuma Hexagon Vase with Dragon & Phoenix Marked

It is 10.7 inches (27.4 cm) tall by 8.26 inches (21 cm) wide. It is 7.9 Lb.

It has minor rubbing of gold, surface wears, and scratches (as seen in the photos).

Our Guarantee: We stand behind all of the items that we sell. That is to say, if you purchase an item from us and are unhappy with it for any reason, return it for a 100% refund of the amount you originally paid...

1900's Chinese Canton Enamel Lotus Altar Offering Tray

It is 2.6 inches (6.7 cm) tall by 10.95 inches (27.8 cm) long and 5.78 inches (14.7 cm) wide. It is 2.4 Lb.

It has missing enamels, hairline cracks, chips, missing enamels, uneven base, and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

Our Guarantee: We stand behind all of the items that we sell...

Antique 18th-19th century Yemen, Islamic Yemeni Arab dagger, Khanjar Jambiya with belt. A broad, slightly curved, double-edged iron blade formed with a pronounced medial ridge on each side, the shaped silver hilt finely repousse and engraved with chevrons decorated with filigree work and adorned with large pyramidal shaped protrusions.

A wooden scabbard is covered on the front with low grade eastern silver decorated in openwork with scrolling vegetation...

Late Qing Dynasy (1880s to 1911) Chinese glass seal of square section and 4 raised characters on the bottom. The first photo shows the image of the bottom flipped left to right, so the seal can be read. Wonderful simple piece appropriate for a scholar’s desk, beautiful transparent glass, very pleasant finish to the surface, old dried sea paste in the grooves. Height 1.69 inches, printing surface size 0.51 x 0.51 inches.

18th to early 19th century Japanese sword fuchi (bordering piece between the sword guard and the handle) with inlaid and gilded relief design of three differently colored quails feeding on millet stalks. Very good quality crisp work, different patinas, some expected. Length 1.48 inches, width 0.93 inches, height 0.43 inches

Antique late 19th century Indonesian Headhunters Dayak sword, Parang Ilang, (Mandau) of Kenyah-Kayan people of Borneo.

DETAILS: The hilt with pommel finely carved of deer antler, with scrolls motifs the and the leech grotesque faces. The leech (lemetek) is associated with blood sucking and so was considered a proper motif for a weapon and set with white and black and pink hair tufts, the grip bound with braided rattan straps...

Antique 19th century Indonesian Dayak Headhunters sword Mandau parang ihlang, Kalimantan, Borneo.

DETAILS: The hilt with pommel finely carved of deer antler, with “aso” motifs and set with, black and brown hair tufts, the grip bound with braided rattan straps...

Antique 19th century Filipino (Sultanate of Maguindanao), Mindanao - Moro Islamic large Sword Kampilan. It comprises a long and very sharp single-edged finely hand forged blade, widening toward its tip elaborately shaped on the form of the stylized shark head. Showing slightly visible laminations watered pattern throughout its surfaces...

Late 19th century to 1920s good size Japanese sterling silver and copper cigarette case with inlaid and carved landscape of snow covered Mount Fuji rising above clouds, and a wide bay with rocks, pines, huts and sailing boat boats, with design continuing on the back of the case. Inlays are cut all the way through, so the image on the inside of the case is the mirror image of the one on the outside. Excellent quality carving, wonderful inlays with differently colored patinas...

A rare Ming dynasty Yongle longquan celadon large lotus bowl with carved flower scroll motif at the interior, good condition no damage minor different color tone at the exterior, please see picture for detail, size: 15.5 cm diameter.

Rare Song dynasty Qingbai Hutian plate with dragon motif, good condition with short line at the rim and small glaze fritts no restoration very rare with large chi dragon motif, please see picture for detail, size: 17 cm diameter.

Finely cast unusual statue of Hindu god Kartikeya, wearing jewels and a loincloth, standing on a stylised lotus.The right hand of this statue is poised as if holding a staff and the left hand rests on his thigh. He is seen as a mendicant with just a loincloth on. This form of Kartikeya is also called Dandayudhapani (the one who holds staff in hand).Bronze, with nice age patina. India, early 19th century, maybe earlier. Height: 19.3 cm. Very good condition...

19th century wooden netsuke carved as seated Tanuki (badger) with its mouth wide open, beating with his paws on his extended belly as on a drum. In Japanese folklore tanuki is a notorious trickster: he drums with his paws on his large belly (tanuki no hara tsuzumi), imitating the sounding of gongs in temples and inns, and leading tired travelers astray in the darkness...

Unusual 1890s - 1910s (late Meiji - early Taisho) Japanese lacquered wood nyoi - a Buddhist scepter - made out of a natural root. Nyoi, or Ruyi scepter is a traditional symbol of scholarship and transmission of knowledge. Lacquered in Negoro style with bright red body and black patch on the head. Striated wood surface texture is nicely felt under lacquer, wonderful patina, very pleasant to the touch...

Taisho period (1920s) lacquered wood kogo (box for incense during tea ceremony), its top decorated with two roundels, one containing bamboo and the other cherry flowers. Elegant object in Japanese taste, the body is made out of kiri (Paulownia tree) wood, perfect lacquer work, two parts fit perfectly, beautiful surfaces, in excellent condition. Diameter 1.82 inches.

19th century Chinese fingering piece in a form of a natural Manchurian nut. Excellent piece to use for meditation practice with natural design, richly textured surface, superb warm patina from more than 100 years of handling, very pleasant to hold. Wonderful object for a scholar’s desk. Length 1.92 inches.

A pair of Burmese wooden finial with figures, used for decoration on top of temple's roof.

Age: Burma, Early 20th Century
Size: Height 123.3 - 127 C.M. / Width 18.3 - 20 C.M. / Depth 18 - 20 C.M.
Size including stand: Height 126.8 - 128.2 C.M.
Condition: Nice condition overall (some expected degradation due to their age). Please refer to the enlargement photos for more details.
Shipment: Worldwide shipping from Bangkok, Thailand at actual cost. Please e-mail us for the ...

19th century Chinese scholar wooden brush rest in a shape of a mountain range with soaring peaks. Hardly any carving, perfectly captures the energy of the mountains. Three carved characters on the bottom that can be translated as WOOD & STONE RETREAT. Beautiful patina, traces of ink on sides and bottom, excellent austere object for a scholar’s desk. Length 3.04 inches, height 1.5 inches.

Late 19th century Japanese Bizen stoneware okimono modeled as meditating Daruma - the founder of Zen Buddhism - enveloped in his monk’s robe with a hood, his hands folded on his chest. Excellent modeling with wonderful facial expression of severe concentration, fine detailing. Typical Bizen color to the surface, eyes are highlighted with white enamel, beautiful patina, in great condition. Marked with a potter’s stamp on the bottom, appears to read EISHO. Height 4 1/8 inches.

Height: 24 cm (9.7 in)
Width: 7 cm (2.8 in)
Depth: 5.8 cm (2.3 in)

Chinese polychrome porcelain figure of a scholar; Qianlong Period; minor age signs; good condition

A really nice and impressive stamp seal wuth a tall handle, Western Mesopotamia, c. 2nd. mill. BC.

The seal is inspired by early Assyrian iconography and shows a finely carved Lion on it's hind legs grapping or fighting a monster with multible legs - here the Lion is probably the king or leading god, while the Lizzard creature is the evil one.

Size: c. 20 mm. wide and 20 mm. tall.

Condition: Near Extremely fine.

Comes with hard imprint!

Pro...

Attractive and interesting bronze seal where a Lion is fighting a Bull with long horns, Neo-Babylonian c. 8th.-6th. century BC.

The seal is round and looks to have been made without handle or drill.

Size: 17 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Very fine, intact with much patina!

Added to the Oberländer collection in 2002. Comes with original ID card from the Oberländer collection and imprint! Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired...

Hand painted image of White Tara, colours on fine cotton in silk border. Text on reverse. Overall size 75x42 cm. Undated, estimated to be 19th century. Can be viewed in central London and shipped worldwide with insurance.

Nice scarab shaped seal carved in black serpentine stone, Western Mesopotamia, c. mid 2nd. millenium BC.

Stylized scarab or scaraboid, engraved with demon-looking humanoid walking, probably a deity of sorts.

Size: 14 mm. x 12 mm.

Condition: Nice Very fine, intact.

Added to the Oberländer collection in 1995. Comes with original ID card from the Oberländer collection and imprint!

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aqu...

Japanese ivory netsuke depicting the Buddha's Hand or Fingered cedar among the leaves, a scented ornamental citrus fruit, a very important symbol in Buddhism, in the shape of a hand, originating from China and Japan where it is grown for religious purposes. The surface of the netsuke precisely reproduces the natural texture of the fruit, which is not smooth but characterized by roughness and pores. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 5.2×2.3×2.5 cm. Stat...

A pair of Thai wooden finial Naga, used for decoration on top of temple's roof.

Age: Thailand, 18th Century
Size of Naga only: Height 109.5 - 112.3 C.M. / Width 32.3 - 34 C.M. / Thickness 7 C.M.
Height including stand: 119.7 - 121.8 C.M.
Condition: Nice condition overall (some expected degradation due to its age including natural wears from age). Please refer to the enlargement photos for more details.
Shipment: Worldwide shipping from Bangkok, Thailand at actual cos...

A nice pair of ancient Near East Bronze javelins / spear points. Likely Neo-Elamite, dating to around 1200-800 BC.

Commonly called 'Luristani' by dealers and collectors. Both with tangs, prominent central midribs. Both have incised criss cross patterns near the bottom of the blades on ones side.

Size: c. 14 & 15,5 cm - c. 5,5-6 inches.

Condition: Choice with some roughness. Nice patinas & good metal.

Ex. Danish Private collection.

A nice collection of three Danish early Neolithic 'Step axes' dating to 4th-3rd mill. B.C.

This is also known as the perid of the 'Erteboelle'-culture, during which the use of hard stone for tools and weapons became more frequent.

All three axes a grinded to a cylindrical design, with an asymmetrical edge, suggesting they were mounted as adzes, on the woodden shaft in antiquity.

Sizes: 12,5, 11,5 & 10,5 cm.

Condition: Choice axes - as made.

An interesting pair of ancient Greek wheel-made pottery lamps in orange clay, dating to 4th-1st cent AD.

Both lamps with a central, conical tube. The concave rim turned inwards and rounded short nozzles with large wick holes. Old collection tags on both pieces

Size: 5 & 6 cm across at the nozzle.

Condition: Choice and intact lamps with wear for type and age.

Ex. German collection.

Interesting and unusual small stamp with a beautiful symethric engraving, Post-Hittite states of Western Mesopotamia, c. early 1st. millenium BC.

Size: 11 x 10,5 mm.

Condition: Extremely fine, attractive patinated Hematite.

Added to the Oberländer collection in 2006. Comes with original ID card from the Oberländer collection and imprint!

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection of seals betw...

Fine, old and rare Chang Naga, three paneled body “prestige” cloth with anthropomorphic cowry shell design. Made from very fine hand spun cotton weft and silk warp, the cowry shells have a fine toned aged patina. This is a genuinely old cloth circa 50 to 70 years old (not for the tourist market). This kind of cloth signifies the owner has given a series of feasts or in the past taken a head. There is one 3cm hole, and two frays on selvedge as well as what appears to be an ink s...

A banded agate stone seal, polished to a perfect oval scaraboid shape with a slightly pointed center, Neo-Babylonian, c. 8th-6th. century BC.

The stone with particularly nice patterns of multi-layered bands. On the base it's carved with a worshipping priest standing before the alter of the principal deity Marduk.

Size: 20 mm. long and 17 mm. wide.

Condition: Extremely fine, signs of light ancient use and gloss with wear around the edges of the horisontical pierc...

A sample book of wa-sarasa (Japanese sarasa) with 106 fragments on 43 sheets of paper board, mostly made in Meiji period (1869～1912) and some from early Taisho period (1910s). Originally it has 45 sheets, but 2 (3rd and 20th) are lost. The dye techniques are katazome (stencil-resist-dye) and print. The book is published by Kyoto Shoin in Showa 42 (1967). The 4th among limited 60 issues. 27cm x 35cm x 5cm.