19th century Asakusa school stag antler netsuke of a seated tanuki (badger) with its enormous belly, an inscribed sake bottle in one paw, an accounting book in the other. In Japanese folklore tanuki is a notorious trickster: it drums with his paws on its large belly (tanuki no hara tsuzumi), imitating the sounding of gongs in temples and inns, and leading tired travelers astray in the darkness. Judging by the book in its paw, this time tanuki acts as a sake vendor...

Very unusual 19th century lacquered wood netsuke of eagle talons clutching a tama (Precious Gem). Beautifully carved out of dark dense wood (probably kurogaki - black persimmon), gold lacquer highlights to the folds of the talons, tama is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black and later wood start showing. Beautiful wear and patina. Length 1.7 inches.

Late Meiji to early Taisho (1910s) wooden netsuke of a bamboo shoot. Excellent realistic carving utilizing texture and natural growth lines of the material (ichii - Japanese yew wood) to represent the texture of the leaves. Wonderful sense of volume, very pleasant to hold. Cursively inscribed by himotoshi - may be a signature or a rendition of Japanese character TAKE (bamboo). Height 2.67 inches.

19th century Asakusa school staghorn netsuke of obihasami type inlaid with metal tama (Precious Gem) and dots. The hooks at the top and bottom of the piece go around the edges of obi - a sash holding a kimono. Excellent clever piece typical of Asakusa school, warm patina, darker porous areas as is usual with staghorn. Metal appears to be silver. Length 4.19 inches (106.5 mm).

Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Ding Tripod

This pottery tripod vessel, or "ding", was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a relatively highly-fired grey pottery. The body stands on three sturdy integral feet. On opposite sides at the waist are two square-cut handles. Both cover and body have been decorated with cold-painted brown and creamy-white pigments. On top of the dome-shaped cover are three equally-spaced protrusions...

Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Ding Tripod

This pottery tripod vessel, or "ding", was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a relatively highly-fired grey pottery. The body stands on three sturdy integral feet. On opposite sides at the waist are two square-cut handles. The cover has been decorated with cold-painted brown and creamy-white pigments. On top of the dome-shaped cover are three equally-spaced protrusions...

Tall Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Vase / Jar (Feng Ping)

This attractively-shaped pottery jar was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is relatively highly-fired and has been made from flat slabs of pottery that have been luted together in imitation of an archaic bronze vessel. Its form is unique to the Western Han period and is known as a "feng ping". It still retains its original cover...

Tall Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Vase / Jar (Feng Ping)

This attractively-shaped pottery jar was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is relatively highly-fired and has been made from flat slabs of pottery that have been luted together in imitation of an archaic bronze vessel. Its form is unique to the Western Han period and is known as a "feng ping". It still retains its original cover...

Tall Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Vase / Jar (Feng Ping)

This attractively-shaped pottery jar was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is relatively highly-fired and has been made from flat slabs of pottery that have been luted together in imitation of an archaic bronze vessel. Its form is unique to the Western Han period and is known as a "feng ping". It still retains its original cover...

Rare Chinese Song / Yuan Dynasty Buddhist Pottery Zodiac Jar

This interesting pottery jar was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279), or possibly the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368) and has been been excavated from a Buddhist site in Yunnan province. It is made from a fairly high-fired pale grey pottery, the yellowish-brown surface colour being due to the iron-rich Yunnan soil.

Strips of clay have been applied to the outer wall to form two bands each of six lotus leaf panels...

19th century wooden netsuke carved as double theatrical masks of Okina and Okame. Nice pairing of characters, excellent quality carving, wonderful faces, great detailing, beautiful wear and rich lustrous patina. Height 1.5 inches.

Early 19th century lacquered wood netsuke of a turtle on a folded lotus leaf. Strong early carving with clever design, wood is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black and later wood start showing. Beautiful wear and patina. Length 1.7 inches.

19th century Asakusa school staghorn netsuke of two old broken roof tiles. Strong piece in Japanese taste typical of Asakusa school, beautiful dark staining, warm patina, darker porous areas as is usual with staghorn. Length 1.8 inches.

Large Attic pelike of the Kerch style decorated with an Arimasp on horseback fighting off two griffins. The Amazon is riding a prancing horse, turns back and raises her sword-wielding arm above the head.
The woman wears a Phrygian cap and is clad in an oriental costume with trousers. Her defeated companion lays on the ground. The griffins with reserved wings.
Three draped youths on the reverse, the leftmost holding a staff...

A nice scaraboid after Egyptian model, Western Mesopotamia, late 2nd. millenium BC.

Carved in a fine purple stone with Deer springing and a fish, crescent above for the Moon god Sin.

Size: 16x 12 x 8 mm.

Condition: Nice Very fine, with minor ancient chip.

This seal comes with original ID card and hard impression from below collection...

A lovely larger stamp seal of the non-figural Gable type in grey black stone, Ubaid Period of Eastern Anatolia / North-Western Mesopotamia, 4th. millenium BC.

The seal was reportedly found at 'Amúg Ebene' in ancient North-Western Mesopotamia, present day Turkey, close to the ancient city of Antioch...

An nice early stamp seal in black steatite or chlorite, Halaf period 6th...

Rare “kiln waster” possibly from the Qingliangsi Kiln, Baofeng, Henan- see reference in last enlargement. D: 11.8cm/4.7in and H: 4cm/1.6in. Very shiny black glaze. There is one star crack on the side as well as “slag” adhesions on the rim. Please examine enlargements. May still be used for tea ceremony if you don't mind a little "wabi sabi"