Antique Japanese carved boxwood jizai-okimono of a dragon. Literally meaning "decorative object, moves at will", this jizai-okimono is made up of many separately carved moving pieces. There are differing theories about why these articulated creatures came to be made, the most accepted being that the armorers who normally created suits started crafting jizai-okimono as a way to show off their skills to daimyos in hopes of being chosen next time their armor needed to be replaced...

Three early 19th century (c 1810) coffee cans decorated en grisaille with accents in red: the first with a mansion and a gentleman in red clothing passing by carrying a fishing rod, the second a cottage and a romantic mediaeval turret, an old man in red passing by leaning onto his stick, and the third with a small country church, a farmer in red clothing passing by carrying his tools. All three cans Belgian (Vieux Bruxelles) or possibly French (Paris porcelain). Height: 2 ½”/6,5 cm...

On behalf of a Dutch collector

Here is another stunning chawan, a Nogime (hare's fur) Tenmoku tea bowl from the Jian Kilns - made in the Southern Song era (Chinese: 南宋; 1127–1279). Such tea bowls were one of the first tea bowls in Japan, which came together with the first tea from China.

Little refined iron bearing clay, with iron oxide, thrown into the typical tenmoku shape...

A rare small size bronze Laos rain drum. Would have originally been given as a gift to a wealthy family's children to play. Stunning relief work seen with great detail on all sides. Pair of four frogs sit atop the flat surface...

An early Chinese Buddhist sculptural relic. Wood figure of "thousand armed" Avalokiteshvara. Originally with 18 arms, the figure retains only four arms. The surface, with remnants of lacquer and gilt, substantially distressed. Late Song or early Yuan dynasty. The base appears to be a tightly grained, dense and heavy hardwood with nice, undulating figure in the grain - likely zitan. Figure height (not including base), 8 5/8 inches.

An old Chinese brass furniture lock. Unusual dog form where the tail closes the clasp in the back of the dogs head. A separate key pushes the tail clasp apart from the dog's body. Three pieces total. Good condition with old, accumulated surface patina. Probably 19th century. Would work nicely for an antique Chinese furniture collector. Length, about 4 1/2 inches from end of the dog's looped tail to tip of its nose (doesn't include any additional extension when the key is inserted)

A Southern Song Dynasty Longquan area celadon lotus bowl, covered overall with olive green glazed. Condition is very good, no any chip, no any crack and free from any restoration. Diameter: 16,5 cm and Height: 5,5 cm.

Carved amber glass snuff bottle, a stylized animal head to each side. China, late 19th century. Height "2/ 5.2 cm. Condition: minimal nicks to rim (cf. pics).

An English stoneware plate, salt-glazed and enameled in rust-red, blue and green, c 1800 or somewhat earlier. Diameter "9½/ 24 cm. Condition: a small glaze-burst to rim, otherwise fine.

Antique Japanese figure of seated Quan yin, made of carved cinnabar lacquer. She is seated on a lotus throne and holds a scroll in her hands. Her robes are carved all over with floral and Buddhist motifs. Her facial expression is serene, befitting her role as goddess of compassion.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 6 1/4" high x 3 1/2" wide x 3 1/4" deep

Antique Nepalese bronze figures of Yama Dharmaraja and Yami in tantric embrace. The buffalo headed Buddhist protector, Lord of Death and Justice stands with his consort. He tramples a male buffalo with one foot, a female victim with the other. He brandishes a skull-tipped stick in his right hand and his hair streams out in flames behind his horns.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions: 5 1/4" high x 3 1/4" wide x 2" deep

Antique Chinese pair of ornately carved gilt wood panels. Each panel is a mirror of the other and depicts a scholarly display of flowers in an elaborately carved vase. Among the flowers are lotus, peonies, berry stalks and blossoming fruit branches. Attracted to the berries, are a pair of kingfishers. Each vase stands on a multi tiered display with scrolls in boxes and upright containers surrounded by bats and kylin (qilin)...

A large Japanese wood okimono of a shishi with its puppy on a wooden base. Silk, enamel and glass eyes. Edo period 18th century Sizes: 37 x 50 x 30 cm Condition report: Good condition

A shell incense box (kogo) painted in relief pure gold with waka writing inside with probably poetic or romantic references. Very similar to shells for the game of kaiawase, but larger in size. Edo period 19th century Sizes: 5 x 10 x 8 cm Condition report: Good condition – with tomobako

Very rare, dating circa 1820, American cut lead crystal wash basin and water pitcher set. Possibly by Bakewell Glass of Pittsburgh, the set is in excellent condition. The bowl measures 7.5" high x 16.25 diameter. The pitcher measures 12.5 inches high. Both in excellent condition.

A porcelain two handled small tureen with cover and stand (this could possibly be a very large ecuelle) in a classical urn form with the handles having hooded classical female faces. The form is similar to one sold as Nove at Sotheby’s Zurich November 25, 1992 lot 126, illustrated. This one decorated with hunting horns and flowers on one side and a quiver and bow with flowers on the other. Extensive gilding and floral bands on the top and on the stand. Overall height 8 inches (20 cm)...

A pair of blue and white plates, transfer printed with the temple of Serapis in Pozzuoli – also to be seen in the well in writing. One in a series of Italian and Sicilian Views produced by the Don Pottery in Swinton, Yorkshire, c 1820. Unmarked. Diameter "10 / 25.5 cm. Condition: hairline and rim chip to one plate (cf. pics).

Black basalt milk jug with an elegant leaf handle. Engine turned in a bamboo-like pattern. England, Wedgwood style, c 1800-1820. Height "4 ½ / 11.5 cm. Condition: hairline near the base of the handle (cf. pic).

19th century Japanese kozuka (sword knife) handle depicting a lobster and some fishing implements including a straw raincoat and a woven ring. Clever design of the terminus as a curled lobster, superb crisp work - see the fine differentiated textures of the crustacean’s body, ring and long strands of the coat...

Late Meiji (1890s - 1910s) Japanese hammered copper incense burner - tripod with wide body, flaring mouth and 3 short feet. Wonderful object made by hammering a chunk of copper, raising it and giving it shape - no casting is involved. Fantastic clean gently curving organic form with beautifully hammered surface and superb reddish patina, very pleasant to the touch. Signed JUZAN on the bottom, beautiful object for scholar’s desk. Height 2 1/4 inches, diameter 3 7/8 inches at the widest.

A Japanese woven bamboo reed ikebana basket. Of small size and fine work. Having handled a good number of ikebana baskets over time, this one strikes us as quite sophisticated. Of baluster form, meticulously consistent woven pattern, defined foot and rim, sparse and well balanced decorative intertwined bamboo shoots across the face, and confidently woven handles. Excellent condition. Height, 8 inches.

A fine and early Dr. Wall Worcester porcelain cup of slightly tapering octagonal form with each of the 8 sides decorated with a flowering plant or insects. The graceful handle is of double scroll form with a pointed thumbrest.

Excellent condition with bright sharp colors, and no chips, cracks, or staining. The height is 2" and the diameter at the top is 2 1/4".

Labels are present from the well known Shaw collection and the 1998 Albert Amor exhibit of the Vincent Townrow collection.

A very small Chinese celadon porcelainous-stoneware water pot. Late Song or Yuan dynasty Longquan type. Good condition with weathered surface. 13th century. Height, about 1 5/8 inches. Diameter about 2 1/8 inches.

Rather unusual late Qing Dynasty (1890s to 1911) Chinese seal carved out of a natural dense stone with numerous cream to brown colored layers wonderfully resembling flowing hair, and it is not soapstone. The impression of the seal is shown on the first photo (image is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper). Beautiful surface, wonderful flow to the texture of the stone, one side is left in its natural state in a very clever nod to a scholar’s sensibility...

Late Qing Dynasy (1880s to 1911) Chinese glass seal of square section. The impression of the seal is shown on the first photo (image is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper) and can be translated as PURE MOUNTAIN. Wonderful simple piece appropriate for a scholar’s desk, beautiful transparent glass, very pleasant finish to the surface. The bottom is carved with two raised characters, old dried sea paste in the grooves...

Late Qing Dynasty (1890s - 1900s) small Chinese bronze seal with square base and loop for hanging on the top. The impression of the seal is shown on the first photo (image is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper). Nice piece with good casting, well carved raised characters on the base, dried red seal paste in the grooves. Very pleasant to the touch, wonderful piece for a scholar’s desk. Height 7/16 inches, base 7/16 inches square.

19th century Japanese ceramic miniature seal netsuke modeled as shishi - Buddhist lion - sitting on a square base, its head turned to its right. The impression of the seal is shown on the first photo (image is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper). Nice modeling, dark olive glaze thinning on raised spots adding the depth to design...

19th century Japanese ceramic miniature seal netsuke modeled as shishi - Buddhist lion - sitting on a rectangular base, its head turned to its left. The impression of the seal is shown on the first photo (image is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper). Nice modeling, brown glaze thinning on raised spots adding the depth to design...

Cypriot terracotta head of a bull from a plastic vase, the mouth pierced for pouring.
Finely modeled example with pellet eyes and applied ears; ridge of clay for the dewlap.
The clay has fired grey. Resting on a black stand.
For a complete example, cf. inventory no. 1898,1201.106 in the British Museum database.
Ceramic
Late Cypriot II period, 1475-1275 BC
H. 7.2 cm (2.8 in)
H. with stand 9 cm (3.5 in)
Fragmentary. Hand-made, excellent qual...

A rare find of Longquan celadon dish with finely potted, decorated with a small unglazed biscuit turtle firing to be reddish tone, covered overall with olive green glazed under crackle glaze. Condition is very good with no any restoration, no any chip and no crack as well. Southern Song Dynasty Longquan ware. Diameter: 13 cm and Height: 4 cm.

This neo-classically inspired porcelain pitcher is magnificent in its grace and, dare I say, grandeur. It expands as it rises from its gilded circular foot then recedes to give rise to a towering helmet style beaker. The base of the handle is anchored in a shield from which it serpentinely shoots up and then down to attach to the rim. The gilding is sumptuous especially around the hand painted scene of a riparian idyll with 2 people in discourse. Although the gilding has suffered loss, the paint...

When Dr Wall discovered a formula for porcelain which would withstand boiling water, he had a huge hit on his hand. This lovely blue and white porcelain mimics the ever popular Chinese wares using similar decorations such as this fine fenced garden. Trees, birds, lush flora surround the garden. The interior bottom of the bowl contains a peony while its rim is ringed with a thick blue line.

This wonderful blue and white bowl is made with soft paste porcelain, and among the very earli...

This Victorian copper luster pitcher practically dances with joy for the colorful flowers strung around the blue band of its bulbous form. Beading borders the blue and rim of the pitcher. Equally exciting is the mythical figure on the beaker spout. Condition is excellent and still retains luminous shine even after 170 years of life.

6 1/2" h

This fine Staffordshire copper luster pitcher is decorated with a blue band of enamel, creating a very clean, simple design, accented with beading around the border and rim of the pitcher. The fancy serpentine and strap handles give it grace. The warmth of the copper makes it an attractive accessory to a bookshelf or cabinet.

5 1/2" h

With neo-classicism a dominating influence in decorative arts at the end of the 18th century, it is most natural that dinner service wares would follow suit with clean simple lines and decorations as we see in this Chinese export porcelain pitcher.

Its chief decorative elements are subtle molded shapes and contours in the helmet form and the spare blue and white enameling of its body. The foot and the rim of the pitcher are embellished along with a lone bouquet of basket flowers - a...

A fine example of an antique air twist glass. The pointed round funnel bowl is engraved with a fruiting vine, and raised on a multiple spiral air twist (MSAT) stem above a conical foot with a rough pontil.

The condition is excellent, with no chips, scratches, or restoration. Good color, striations, and tooling marks. The height is 6 1/8" with a bowl diameter of 2 3/8" and a foot diameter of 2 5/8".