Chinese porcelain vase in a monochrome shade of lilac with a very feminine shape, especially around the mouth which has a flower-like form to it. The neck has a raised ring going around it. Mark on bottom reads "Da Qing Yongzheng Nian Zhi - Great Qing dynasty Yongzheng Period Make".
Size: 7" height, 3.75" width
Antique Chinese pair of porcelain bowls, glazed white and with detailed overpainting in orange and gold of dragons and flaming pearl. Each bowl has two five-clawed dragons on either side of the pearl. Eyes are green and black and every scale is finely outlined in gold. Daoguang (1821-1850) mark on the bottom.
Age: Qing Dynasty (19th century)
Dimensions: 4" high x 6 1/2" wide each (5 1/2" high on stand)
This Mayan bone carving is unique in that it has a Mayan glyph carved on the back which translates to "Old God". It is 2 1/4" long. The carving is very well done and has extremely rare iconography. As rare as it gets. A museum quality piece. Purchased from Keith Finello.
Composed by one of the most well-regarded and important figures within the Kanō tradition of painting, here we see a whimsical rendition of tiger and cub prancing through the forest. With its beautiful and well-preserved silk brocade to highlight the scene, the overall composition radiates a feeling of lightness and playful curiosity.
Oldest son to Kanō Takanobu, Tanyu was appointed as the first designated painter to the Tokugawa Shogunate...
A Japanese Mokugyo wooden temple bell, carved from kusunoki (camphor) wood in the form of a lifelike human skull. Used to accompany chants (sutras) in Taoist and Buddhist ceremonies. The base of the skull is signed "Bononshi", with matching tomobako.
Dimensions: 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" x 4 1/2" H
Wooden sculpture of a hare with coral eyes.
In Japanese, the hare and the rabbit are designated by a single word: usagi. The hare has an important place in Japanese legends and superstitions. Like many other animals, it is supposed to reach a fabulous age and become blue at five hundred years.
Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Height: 7.28 in. (18.5 cm) - width: 6.5 in. (16.5 cm) - depth: 13.58 in. (34.5 cm)
Inrô with five compartments with lake landscape decoration in continuity on both sides, in gold lacquer hira maki-e, taka maki-e, kirigane and brown lacquer on a fundame gold background.
The interior is in nashi-ji lacquer.
Wooden netsuke representing Daikoku, carrying in his right hand his wooden mallet and in his left hand his bag.
Daikoku, deity of wealth and trade, is part of the Seven Gods of Happiness...
Inrô with five compartments with lake landscape decoration in continuity on both sides, in gold lacquer hira maki-e, taka maki-e, kirigane and brown lacquer on a fundame gold background.
The interior is in nashi-ji lacquer.
Wooden Netsuke representing the Japanese wonder shell (Thatcheria mirabilis).
Ojime of tubular form in gilded copper and incised with peach decoration. In Japanese popular culture, fishing has the power to drive away evil spirits...
An unusual Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) constructed of Kiri (paulownia) wood with natural finish. This unusual piece contains a top compartment behind sliding panels as well as another below it, the lower compartment containing two shelves and a set of 3 small drawers with decorative locking plates, opened by kan (ring) pulls. The middle inner drawer contains a secret hidden compartment. All in original condition...
A beautiful stand mounted Japanese architectural (corbal) carving of ocean waves. One of this detail and design would have been built into the architecture of a temple. The carving is highly stylized with large openwork areas. The Keyaki (zelkova) woodgrain is visible on the reverse of the carving. Mounted on black iron plates.
Mid Edo Period (1603 - 1868)
Dimensions: 32" L x 3 1/2" D x 17 1/4" H, 13" H carving only
Rectangular kobako in gold lacquer fundame. The cover represents in hiramaki-e a Japanese castle, surrounded by majestic pines. The decoration extends on the edges of the lid and on the sides of the box. The interior and bottom are in nashi-ji lacquer.
Japanese castles (shiro) are constructions mainly made of stone and wood. They are perched on stone headlands. Their appearance coincided with the beginning of Japanese feudalism...
Chinese monochrome dark peach bloom vase with a wide, stout body and long, cylindrical neck, fading to a white glaze near the rim. Prominent midwest collection. 18th century
Size: 4" height, 3" width
Antique Japanese kiri (paulownia) wood tansu of a rare and unusual size, with beautiful rosey iron corner bracing, locks, and handles of an elegant and elongated shape. Gorgeous natural finish hardwood. Early Meiji period (1868-1912)
Size: 49" L x 18" D x 26" H
Antique Chinese rectangular bronze censer. Flanked on either side by standing figures of men holding rings and themselves functioning as handles. Each figure is cast in such detail as to highlight long curling hair, beards, and jolly expressions. The men wear flowing robes and jewelry in a manner which suggest they may represent foreigners of some sort...
Antique Japanese 4-panel screen with delicate painted flowers over a gold leaf background. Clouds of gold flecks decorate the sky and the open valley. Unusual size for the long four panel.
Edo period (1615-1868)
Dimensions: (entire screen) 100.5" L x 36" X (painting only) 94" L x 30" H
Antique Tibetan thangka painting of Green Tara, one of the manifestations of the bodhisattva of protection. The central figure of Green Tara is flanked by bodhisattvas while the Amitabha Buddha is seated directly above her head. Below Tara are a fierce deity with mortal attendants carrying offerings...
Pair of Japanese antique abumi (horse riding stirrups), made of iron with silver inlay all over in beautiful designs of vines and leaves, the bottom of each stirrup is decorated with a bamboo motif, the foot areas are lacquered black, each abumi is inlaid with writing: Kaga Ishikawa Prefecture, Mori Hei Saku (artist's name and "signed by") lived in Komaki. Edo Period (18th century).
Size of each: 9 1/2" high x 11 1/2" long x 5" wide.
This beautiful Olmec mask is made from semi-translucent jade. It is 3" X 3 1/2". Very deeply defined features. I purchased it from Michael Robbins of Santa Fe in 1989. It has high polish. A very nice authentic piece at a low price.