A Pre-Columbian Mayan Mushroom Stone, c. 600 AD. It's 6.5" tall and has stains on its edges from being gripped during intense ceremonies. It comes from a private Berkeley, California collection.
An ancient Egyptian Scarab for Tuthmosis III, from the famous Mitry collection (see our Homepage). It is 11/16” long (17 mm) and made of steatite, an easy-to-carve stone that hardens when heated. Scarabs empowered life and resurrection and were often placed under mummy wrappings to protect the body and to help it resurrect. This Scarab comes in a jewelry display cup.
An ancient Egyptian Scaraboid, c. 1200 BC, from the famous Mitry collection (see our Homepage). It is X” long (X mm) and made of steatite, an easy-to-carve stone that hardens when heated. Scarabs empowered life and resurrection and were often placed under mummy wrappings to protect the body and to help it resurrect. This Scarab comes in a jewelry display cup.
An ancient Egyptian Scarab, c. 1200 BC. It is 9/16” long (14 mm) and made of steatite, an easy-to-carve stone that hardens when heated. Scarabs empowered life and resurrection and were often placed under mummy wrappings to protect the body and to help it resurrect. This Scarab comes in a jewelry display cup.
Chinese Qing dynasty baluster vase with long neck and wide dish-form mouth decorated on the front in underglaze blue and white with two birds perched on a tree branch among flowers and rockery all set against a golden-tan colored geyao style crackle glaze background that extends into the interior mouth. Brown dressed rim. The foot rim and base are unglazed. 9 3/4” high. 19th century. Very good overall condition with one small fine hairline at the edge of the mouth (see close-up image)...
A Very Rare Korean Imperial Embroidered Document/Letter Container/Symbols of 10 longevity
(십장생문-長生文-書札桶)-19th C.:
Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th century...
A Tea Pot by Otagaki Rengetsu with a handle like bamboo root inscribed with a poem which reads:
Ko no kimi wa
medetaki fushi wo
kasane tsutsu
sue no yo nagaki
tameshi nari keri.
This translates as:
Our young bamboo
piling up happy knots
year upon year—
its tips reaching high
a paragon to us.
It is roughly 10 cm (4 inches) diameter. And comes enclosed in a wooden box annotated by Koen of Jinkoin temple, where Rengetsu lived...
A beautifully cast bronze dragon waterspout from an ancient Japanese garden in Nara prefecture made to rise over the edge of a water basin, the water trickling out through his mouth. It retains the original bronze pipe and connector, overall, in excellent original condition. The dragon itself is roughly 25 x 13 x 20 cm tall (10 x 5 x 8 inches) and weighs 3.9 kg (8.5 pounds). Including the pipe roughly 50 cm long.
An Edo period coat (haubergeon) and “kote” (mitons) of linked chain over layers of indigo dyed blue cloth decorated with family crests in gold. The chain, Kikko collar, outer layers of cloth and leather piping are all in overall excellent condition, the original pale blue lining is much worn away. This is made for an adult.
In Japan, mail is called kusari which means chain...
A stunning large Menuki in the form of a writhing dragon of gilt copper dating from the 19th century, It is 7.5 cm (3 inches) long and in perfect condition, retaining both the original studs on back unused. The Year of the Dragon is coming up!
This extraordinary tea bowl, bearing the poetic name "Sunrise and Longevity," stands as a testament to the masterful artistry of the esteemed tea master, Bunkyo Masaki. A visual symphony unfolds within the bowl, where a pristine white glaze delicately descends over a vibrant reddish canvas, echoing the soft hues of the morning sun...
Beautifully carved Qing Dynasty softwood stand. Although it must have been the seat for a Fangding censor, the scroll work carving dominate its decoration such that It could be used to display a variety objects aesthetically. Dimensions 12 cm long, 9 cm wide and 4.5 cm high.
Antique Japanese carved wooden panel depicting a pair of pheasants. The male is seated on a blossoming cherry branch while the female looks up at him from near a spray of bamboo. Beautifully carved and painted with intricate details. The frame is lacquered.
Age: Edo Period (early 1800's)
Dimensions: 22" high x 16" wide x 1" deep
Yuan Dynasty carved jade rabbit. Hard jade, traces of raw materials, vivid performance of the rabbit to one side. Using the black texture of the jade itself, it skillfully shows the different hair colors of the rabbit.
Dimensions: 7 cm long, 2 cm wide and 3.5 cm high.
A terracotta idol figurine of astarte, Syro-Hittite, dating to the mid-later period of the 3rd. millenium BC.
The pillar figure of Astarte with large round eyes and a bird-like presence. Angular shoulders and a monolithic body with her hands and delineated fingers placed over her breasts.
Size: 13,5 cm...
An ancient Egyptian Scarab, c. 1200 BC, from the famous Mitry collection (see our Homepage). It is 7/16” long (11 mm) and made of steatite, an easy-to-carve stone that hardens when heated. Scarabs empowered life and resurrection and were often placed under mummy wrappings to protect the body and to help it resurrect. This Scarab comes in a jewelry display cup. Mitry: "Glory and devotion to the beautiful god. XIX Dynasty."
Ceramic figure of a Peyote Shaman, 6" tall, 2,000 years old, from Jalisco, Mexico. He has a decapitated snake in his right hand, a death bubble between his lips, and a peyote-button bowl on his head. He has faced death and returned to serve his people. Peyote is a small psychedelic cactus used in life-altering ceremonies.
A rare pair of Chinese cloisonne enamel 'holy water' bottles, Qianlong/Jiaqing, c. 1800. Height 23 cms.
Iron-red decorated porcelain bottles of this shape were made in the Qianlong reign as gifts to Tibetan monks. In cloisonne, however, they are much rarer.
The only pair to have come on the market in recent times were sold at Christie's New York, 18.9.2014, for USD 23,750.
A single example was sold in Christie's Paris, 8.6.2010, lot 242.