An far eastern Anatolian stamp seal of a particularly attractive mottled and veined grey-black stone, Middle Assyrian period, 2nd. millenium BC.

The seal carved with Assyrians emblem / standards.

Size: 18 mm. wide. and 13 mm...

Very Rare Large Chinese Neolithic Xindian Culture Jar with Zoomorphic Patterns with Oxford TL Test

This large and extremely rare pottery jar was made by peoples of the Neolithic Xindian culture (c. 1200 - 500 BC). The Xindian culture is a relatively late Neolithic culture and overlaps with the Chinese Bronze Age. This jar is of the Tangwang type and is not quite as coarse in its construction as some other Xindian vessels...

Finely preserved scaraboid stamp seal, inspired by Egyptian scarabs, Middle-Assyrian Empire, 15th.-11th. cent. BC.

The scarab of a bifacial style where the upperside is engraved with a vivid Sun motif and the base engraved with two animals.

Size: 19 mm. long and 16 mm. wide and 7 mm...

18th to early 19th century Japanese bronze kozuka (sword knife) handle with low relief decoration of Kanzan and Jittoku looking at an open scroll. According to a legend, Kanzan and Jittoku lived in a kitchen of a Chinese Zen Buddhist monastery and talked nonsensical language, which some took as a sign of them being enlightened. Great design, excellent detailing, wonderful faces, very pleasant feel of age. Length 3.86 inches.

18th to early 19th century iron Japanese sword tsuba inlaid with branches of maple tree with leaves turning yellow and red, roots and cresting waves below, design continuing on the back . Wonderful work with brass and copper inlays, precise detailing and well captured mood of contemplation and autumnal melancholy. The plate has a dark brown patina, overall in great condition. Maple Height 2.84 inches.

19th century iron sukashi Japanese sword tsuba for tanto with design of a turtle with a very long tale. The subject may be a minogame (turtle with a long tail made from seaweed and algae accumulated from many years leaving in the sea) or a directional animal - the Black Snake-Tortoise of the North. Clever design and nice detailed work (see its carapace), a bit of rust, overall in very good condition. Height 2.16 inches.

Interesting large amuletic seal in marble, probably crusader period, 11th.-13th. cent.

The seal was found in Eastern Anatolia / Western Mesopotamia - old crusader land. It was described in the large collection as a 'mystery seal', due to it's strange form and depiction on the seals base.

Finely carved in white marble with uncleaned parts of brown enbedded sand. The amulet in itself had the shape of a veiled Virgin Mary...

Fine Qing Dynasty small carved wood panel depicting a scholar and boy in garden with flower buds and pine trees. Carved on both sides excellent condition with gold, red and black lacquer. L:30.3xm 12in and H: 12.5cm/5.5in.

Inro with 4 compartments in black lacquered wood. Decor of a mountain lake landscape executed in gold and silver powder. Mosaic details of small squares of gold. The worn parts reveal the red lacquer which was used to execute the reliefs. Japanese work from the 18th century or before. No signing. Good general condition for a tercentenary lacquer. Multiple small damages all visible on photos. No repainted areas, no restoration. Quality lacquer, solid. 82x52mm.

Small hard porcelain dish, enamelled decoration, with a bouquet of flowers and flowering branches in relief in the colors of the "famille rose". Chinese work from the end of the 18th century, probably made for export via the "compagnie de indies". Relief decorations are rare. Good condition, wear from use visible on photos. No restaure. Diameter 16cm.

Arita hard porcelain dish. The decoration is painted with stylized flowers in underglaze cobalt blue and enamelled with medallions. The edge is coated with a thick chocolate brown enamel, typical. Japanese work from the end of the 17th century or the beginning of the 18th. It is a rare artistic model. Below a mark drawn in blue and traces of pernettes. Good condition. Some enamel skids. Diameter 195mm.

19th century Japanese tobacco pipe consisting of a reed stem and 2 brass parts, the mouth one with copper and silver inlaid scholar’s hut. The top of the smoking part bears the signs of wear due to the fact that it was tapped on hard surfaces to empty the bowl. Excellent crisp work, great detailing, characteristic small bowl (Japanese used finely shredded tobacco, and usually made just 2-3 puffs), traces of tobacco residue. Wonderful old piece with pleasant signs of wear. Length 7.5 inches.

A lovely rectangular stamp seal with a stylized bird handle, North-West Mesopotamia, 2nd. mill. BC.

The base particularly well-engraved for the stone type and period, with two animals in flight.

Size: 22 mm. long and 16 mm. wide and 17 mm...

A very interesting large stamp seal with a knob handle, Western Mesopotamian, 1st. mill. BC.

Finely worked and polished seal in a glossy dark stone. The base in engraved with a detailed depiction of a horned animal, crescent above.

Size: 27 mm. tall and 24 mm...

A lovely larger stamp seal in form of a stepped Pyramid, Neo-Hittite Kingdoms of the East Anatolia and West Mesopotamia, 1st. mill. BC.

finely carved and pierced at the top in a light brown stone. The top also engraved. The base engraved with a mythical winged animal.

Size: 21 mm x 21 mm. and 14 mm...

An attractive round dark green almost black stone seal of the hemispheric form of the Uruk period, 4th.-3rd. mill. BC.

The seal is finely polished and carved with a stylized motif that looks a like an insect.

Size: 20 mm. diameter and 11 mm...

19th century Japanese chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) in a shape of a storage jar with narrow waist and wider shoulders, and 2 mock ring handles. Old Bizen ware with characteristic dark brown clay bearing the marks of potter’s fingers as he was turning the piece on a wheel. Typical Japanese elliptical lines on the bottom left by a string used to cut the item off the turning wheel. Possibly marked by the bottom - see the detail on Enlargement 1. Beautiful...

Late Meiji (1890s to 1912) Japanese chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) in a shape of a storage jar with 4 mock lug handles. Buff colored stoneware body with free bulbous body bearing the marks of potter’s fingers as he was turning the piece on a wheel. Beautiful glaze turning from brown to off-white towards the bottom of the piece. Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag). Old bone lid lined with gold leaf paper on the inside. Beautiful p...

1900-1920s (late Meiji - early Taisho) ceramic chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) in bunrin (apple) shape with a single small handle. Unusual Kyoto piece made in neriage (agateware) technique that is achieved by laminating different colored clays together and throwing them on a wheel to develop a swirling and spiraling effect. Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag).Old turned bone lid lined with gold leaf paper on the inside. Wonderful s...

1900-1920s (late Meiji - early Taisho) Japanese burlwood stand with live edge and two sides with wave shaped edges, to be used for placing small objects during tea ceremony or display of okimono. Wonderful dense wood with supremely beautiful texture resembling swirling clouds, in excellent condition. Size 6 x 5 inches, 0.35 inches thick.

Early 19th century Japanese wooden devotional carving of Kannon (Chinese Guanyin, or Avalokiteshvara) - the Boddhisattva of Compassion - enveloped in her robe and cape. Kannon grants deliverance from suffering to anyone who calls upon her name. Wonderful quality work, beautiful tranquil face, graceful flow of her robe. Old small losses to nose and feet as can be see on photos. Marked on the bottom in ink with one character followed by kakihan (monogram of the carver). Excellent patina, has wond...

Late Meiji (1890s - 1910s) Japanese bamboo wrist rest used by painters and calligraphers, with low relief carving of an iris flower about to bloom and cursively written poem. Beautiful subtle piece, superb quality carving, rich warm patina, in excellent condition. Wonderful object for a scholar’s desk. Size 6 1/4 x 1 1/2 inches.

19th century or earlier Japanese magatama bead made out of lapis lazuli. Magatama are curved beads which first appeared in Japan during the Jomon period (circa 1000 BCE), and in Korea during the Prehistoric period, mainly in the Bronze Age and Neolithic. They are found in mounded tumulus graves as offerings to deities, and continued to be popular with the ruling elite throughout the Kofun Period, and are often romanticized as indicative of the Yamato Dynasty of Japan. It is believed that magatam...

19th century kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke, the top being Chinese carving adopted as netsuke, with scene of 5 scholars among various trees and pavilions. Excellent quality work with deep undercarving, beautiful wear and patina, in great condition, dark hardwood bowl with old natural stable lines, peg at the back for the cord. Bowl diameter 1.76 inches.

Late Meiji (1890s to 1910s) bone obidome (sash ornament) carved as a pair of swimming carp. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Clever design, good quality carving, nice finish and patina, two metal fittings on the back for an obi cord. Length 2.95 inches.

An ancient tomb sculpture of a turtle, probably a weight from a burial shroud, Chinese, Warrings states to Han Dynasty, c. 300 BC-100 BC.

Very rare and exceptional larger sculpture, made in fine crystalized white marble, imported from the Silk Road trade since marble was not found inside China. The sculpture depicts a turtle with a large snake on it's shell and standing on a square base.

Size: 18 cm. long and 11 cm. wide and around 8-9 cm. tall. The turtle weighs c. 2,1-2,2...

Late Qing Dynasty (1880s - 1911) Chinese export brooch / pin with brass frame and carved cinnabar lacquer center with decoration of a scholar meditating among rocks under a tree. Very nice work, in excellent condition, marked CHINA on the back. Length with frame 1.85 inches.

1900-1920s (late Meiji - early Taisho) Japanese pottery Kyoto ware chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) in double gourd shape with enamel decoration of brocade pattern with leaves, branches and flowers. Beautiful finely crackled glaze, wonderful slightly crooked upper part of the gourd giving the piece extra character. The foot shows stoneware body with concentric lines. Old turned lid lined with gold foil paper on the inside. Comes with very well made shifuku ...

A rare and very early German wooden figure of Saint John with lamb, Germany, 16th. century.

A finely made figure, with polychrome painted gesso on carved wood. With inlaid glass eyes.

Size: 36,3 cm. tall.

Condition: Choice for type, intact with a few tiny losses to fingertips and wear to the original paint on the figure. The staff probably a later 19th. century addition.

Ex. Old Danish private collection.

A fine large stamp seal of rare low cone-shaped form, Northern Mespopotamian, c. 4th. mill. BC.

The seal shows an animal in a artful stylized style.

Size: 29 mm. in diameter and 15 mm. tall.

Condition: Good Very fine, almost intact, fine and glossy stone.

This seal was aquired as early as 1988 and comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massiv...

A fine large oval green stone stamp seal of the gable form, popular in Northern Mesopotamia and Anatolia in the Ubaid period, 4th. mill. BC.

The seal shows a stylized image, probably animalistic forms.

Size: 33 mm. wide and 30 mm. tall and 15 mm. thick.

Condition: Nice Very fine, intact with nice even wear and patina from use.

This seal was aquired 1995 and comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection.

Provenance: Gu...

A fine larger blackstone stamp seal of the gable form, popular in Northern Mesopotamia and Anatolia in the Ubaid period, 4th. mill. BC.

The seal shows a horned animal in a strongly archaic style.

Size: 35 mm. wide and 29 mm. tall.

Condition: Nice Very fine, intact with nice even wear and patina from use.

This seal was aquired 1994 and comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-...

A scarce large square stamp seal with finely carved handle, Neo-Hittite states of Eastern Anatolia / Western Mesopotamia, c. 1200-800 BC.

The seal square and carved with a large animal and smaller animal above, there's also a symbol or a bird in the corner and all within a frame.

Unusually large and attractive seal.

Size: 24 mm. x 22 mm. in diameter of the base and 15 mm. tall.

This seal was aquired 1992 and comes with hard impression and original ID-...

A rare and interesting Western Mesopotamian stamp seal, c. 4th. mill. BC

The seal of a gable design that became popular in the 4th. mill. BC. The image is interesting since it shows a Turtle!

Size: 28 mm. wide, 24 mm. tall and 7 mm. thick.

Condition: Very fine, with some wear from extensive use in antiquity, nice patina.

This seal was aquired 1991 and comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection.

Provenance: Gustav ...

A Japanese wood netsuke depicting a group of mushrooms with a caterpillar on the dome of the highest. Himotoshi is under the base. Edo period 19th century Sizes: 3,5 x 3,8 x 3,7 cm. Condition report: Good condition

A Japanese boxwood netsuke of a coiled snake around a lotus. The pistils are completely articulated pistils. The himotoshi is formed by the stem of the lotus. Edo period 19th century Sizes: 5 x 3,5 x 3,6 cm. Condition report: Good condition