An Arita porcelain whistle in the form of a reclining Chinese boy. Decorated in Kakiemon-type underglaze blue, green and iron-red enamels. Circa 1680 ~ 1700.

A similar whistle is illustrated in Christiaan J. A. Jorg’s ‘Fine & Curious, Japanese Export Porcelain in Dutch Collections.’

Approximately 7.4 cm long...

A rare Japanese Sometsuke Mukozuke dish, the design of a partially folded fan taken directly from Chinese porcelain made especially for export to Japan during the late Ming Dynasty, Tianqi Period, 1621-1627.

Modeled in the form of a partially unfolded fan and decorated with a figure on a riverbank, the river and a solitary boat before him. The naturalistically modeled back is plain and has three thickly potted circular feet...

A thick-walled censer, shaped like an urn with “Heaven soaring” handles, standing on a three legged base. Both censer and base have been polished in the past but are now achieving a decent patina. The censer fits the base perfectly. The base has an interesting mark. 19th century.

Approximately 19 cm diameter, 22 cm high (on stand). In good condition overall with only some signs of use on the belly of the censer to report...

Kobako in dark brown lacquer. In imitation of bamboo, the inner part is made of bamboo and the outer part of the box is made of kaki wood. It represents the cross section of a bamboo cane node with its light brown diaphragm slightly bulging in the center of the lid and stand. External layer of the bamboo cane representing the cellulosic fibers.
Bamboo, strong, flexible and fast growing, symbolizes strength, flexibility and prosperity...

The head of Dionysos with almond-shaped eyes, a strong nose and a small mouth with pursed lips.
The broad beard with fine wavy strands. Undulated, slender moustache. The hairdo with strands of hair that end in curls, without the hair band above. Traces of red (carmine) pigment on the forehead and the beard.
Fine archaic style, excellent modeling. Mounted on an acrylic stand.
For a related example, cf. fig. no...

Fine bowl on a low ring base, the floor with two concentric grooves. The inside of the rim with steps along a central ridge. Eight groups of notches on the lip. Thin smoothed slip.
Shape form 71A – Hayes 1101-1102 – fig. 34, pl.55, pp. 227-228 in: John W. Hayes. Roman Pottery and Fine-Ware Imports. The Athenian Agora. Vol. 32...

Fine red slip ware bowl on a low ring base, the flat floor offset from the steep wall by a groove.
The flat rim with a fine groove around the outer edge. All covered by a thin smoothed slip.
Roman African red slip ware pottery is characterized by an orange color and a shiny surface.
By the third century AD, fine African red slip pottery wares became the most popular type of tableware in the Roman Empire.
Ceramic
Roman, North Africa, 375-400 AD
D. 16 cm ...

Bright red bowl covered by a dense, smoothed and highly glossy slip.
Deep bowl with shallow floor, steep wall and simple lip. Standing on a ring base.
Roman African red slip ware pottery is characterized by an orange color and a shiny surface.
By the third century AD, fine African red slip pottery wares became the most popular type of tableware in the Roman Empire.
Ceramic
Roman, North Africa, 375-400 AD
D. 12.1 cm (4.8 in)
H. 4.5 cm (1.8 in)

MUDRA OF ESOTERIC BUDDHISM

10 pieces of the practitioner’s manuscript of various hand-signs called ‘tein’ (also ‘inso’, ‘ketsuin’) as the mudra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudra) of ‘mikkyo’ (Japanese Esoteric Buddhism), as the symbolic or ritual gesture or pose performed with the hands and fingers for marking each secret of various buddhas, bodhisattvas, deities, etc. Early 20th century. approx. 31 x 26cm (12.20 x 10.23in) each. Some expected...

An antique Japanese Yonezawa Kasane Kimono Tansu (stacked chest on chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Beautiful Ume (Plum Blossom) motif on lock plates with a nickel rim. Four large drawers with a hinged door that hides two small drawers. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. Hand forged iron hardware with Mokko handles.

Can be separated and used as bedside nightstands or used as a daily dresser drawer or accent piece in any room decor...

Very small portable shrine, zushi. The figure of Amida Nyorai is standing on a lotus base with intricately carved curled lotus petals. His slender body covered in a finely, gold ornamented garment, his left hand pointing down in mudra, his now missing right hand would be held up in mudra, as well.

Soft wood stained dark brown, with gold painted decoration and some red.
The insides of the doors decorated in reddish brown with meandering flowers over gold foil on black lacquer.

...

Hanging scroll. Portrait of probably Sugawara no Michizane, sitting in court dress - a black garment with a long white sash - holding a wooden mace. The black garment, with red liner, is delicately decorated with flowers between waving lines. The sash also decorated with stylized flower shapes.

Tosa style. Signature at bottom: Yuho Issho ga. Red seal: Issho no in.

Colors on silk.

Japan, early 19th century.

Painted area: 23 5/16 x 10 13/16 in. (39.7 x 27.9 cm).
...

An unusual and charming votive image of carved wood depicting Guanyin seated in her grotto on Putuo Island with the secondary figures, the Dragon Maiden and Sudhana attending her on either side. Above a small grotto with the seated image of a Buddha and flanking it on both sides are the four popular companions from the Journey to the West (Xiyou ji), the monk Xuanzang, Sandy, Pigsy and Monkey. In the water below a pair of nagas and a large fish. On the back of the sculpture is a place for relics...

A bronze figure depicting the City God, (Chinese: Cheng Huang). Cold gilding and rest of coulors. The City God is one of the important Gods of Daoism, he is a kind of guardian deity of the City, a heavenly magistrate responsible for the protection of the territory, the safety and prosperity of the locality. Temples dedicated to Chenghuang were built allover China and annual processions of the God were carried out. Ming Dynasty. H. 29 cm. Condition: Very good, just some wear to gilt.

An extremely rare and important Etruscan offer bowl (omphalos), made in thick terracotta glazed pottery, 400-300 BC.

This shallow terracotta bowl is moulded after bronze vessels and has a dome-like omphalos emerging from its interior. Around the omphalos are deep relief decorations. Very rare in terracotta.

The exterior is finely glazed and the bowl has two holes for hanging, typical for the Etruscan ware.

Size: ca. 20,5-21 cm.. (diameter) Extremely large and ver...

An attractive very honest pottery bowl, in a original state for type, basically repaired, Islamic Samenid Dynasty, ca. 10th. century.

The bowl decorated with brown line decoration on white glaze. Old tag from European collection on the side.

Size: 19,5 cm. wide and 7 cm. tall.

Condition: Very fine, assembled from fragments and intact. Completely original crackled glaze, no repainting. See the closeups for the condition of the glaze.

Provenance: Impor...