Catalog: Antiques (338)

An e-kagami of very small proportions 69.4mm (2.73 inches) in diameter, and 12.2cm (4.8 inches) weighing 51gm. Decorated with a sand textured ground and Hares, usage, leaping over stylised waves, nami,in this example taking the form of ryusuimon in which there is a reflection of a crescent moon. The mirror is signed Fujiwara and probably dates to the late seventeenth century, Mid Edo period. For condition see photos, some wear and minor corrosion. Worldwide shipping at Cost.

A small bronze mirror with a diameter of 6.88cm (2.71 inches) and a total length of 12.1cm (4.8 inches) weighing a mere 42gm. Decorated with a Kano school asymmetric composition of a prancing Tiger and Bamboo probably having a common source to similar compositions found on Kakiemon porcelain. The mirror is signed Fujiwara. Dating probably second half of the 17th century. For condition see photos. some wear and minor corrosion. Worldwide shipping at Cost.

An iron and copper alloy black lacquered Tsuba of mokko-gata form with dragon in clouds pattern indistinctly signed. It measures 7.5cm (2.98ins) by 7cm ((2.8ins) approximately 4.78mm (0.19 inches). For condition please see images, some minor corrosion, rust in places. Shipping at Cost.

An early Eighteenth century export dish decorated with a central motif of a Large Vase on a Veranda containing an arrangement of Cherry flowers and Peonies. The border is divided into a series of fan shaped reserves of increasing size. Each separated by further vertical bands of blue brocade inset with Kikumon, The design is something of a departure from the more usual regular formats based upon the Kraak fuyo-de pattern...

An attractive Arita dish made for export to Europe decorated with conventionalised panels of Hoo birds and Paulonia flowers and stylised Peony flowers inset within an underglaze blue brocade ground to the cavetto, and a central motif of Chrysanthemum. The presence of gilt outlined enamels and colloidal pink in the palette indicate that the plate is from the Kyoho period or slightly later. The plate measures 21 cm or 8.25 inches in diameter and stand 3.3cm, or 1.25 inches high at the rim...

An attractive Arita dish made for export to Europe decorated with conventionalised panels of Hoo birds and Paulonia flowers and stylised Peony flowers inset within an underglaze blue brocade ground to the cavetto, and a central motif of Chrysanthemum. The presence of gilt outlined enamels and colloidal pink in the palette indicate that the plate is from the Kyoho period or slightly later. The plate measures 21 cm or 8.25 inches in diameter and stand 3.3cm, or 1.25 inches high at the rim...

A Japanese circular hand mirror decorated with a stylised representation of Penglai, Horai, island the principal elements of which are a pair of small birds in flight, stylised rocks with pine branches above stylised waves and a central Turtle, kame, form boss. The mirror is probably late Kamakura or Nambokucho in date, first half of the fourteenth century. The mirror measures approximately 10.7cm in diameter, and 0.7cm high at the rim, and the edge measures 3.75mm in width, and weighs 200gms...

A Japanese Bronze mirror of circular form decorated with Chrysanthemum Sprays a pair of Cranes, Tsuru, in flight, a circular ring and a central Turtle, Kame, shaped boss. Probably late Kamakura or Nambokucho in date, first half of the fourteenth century. The mirror measures approximately 11.45cm in diameter, and 0.76cm high at the rim, and the edge measures 5.1mm in width, and weighs 273 grams. See images for condition, wear commensurate with its age...

An unusual Arita bowl decorated with a narrow band of pine branches and a series of four Koro’s, bronze censers, with elaborate Taotie, or Elephant mask handles, two of which contain representations of a Kirin and a Hoo bird, and a central motif of a Shirasagi framed by a stylised Lotus border...

A very unusual plate decorated with a central motif of a a late 17th century style “Kakiemon Dragon” framed by a segmented border with floral roundels each with fifteen petals set against a stylised wave and scroll ground, that seems to reference some of the wave patterns popular during the Transitional period...

A fine pair of small tray form dishes with upturned vertical rims decorated in somenishikide style. The central reserve, mikomi, decorated with a stylised “sansui” landscape containing the key components of land and water. The borders decorated with underglaze blue diaper inset with stylised floral motifs. The reverse decorated with a well painted hagi karakusa pattern inset with Lotus flowers, and an auspicious four character fuki chosun marks...

An interesting dish decorated with an Arita Kraak style export pattern, see Mededelingenblad Nederlandse Vereniging van vrienden van der Ceramiek nr 101/102 plate 29 for the almost identical pattern executed entirely in underglaze blue. However it would appear here made for domestic consumption in somenishikide style in a combination of underglaze blue and enamels. The shape is unusually deep with a flared rim...

The subject is taken directly from a famous Neo-Confucian text on filial piety known as the "Twenty four Exemplars" (Japanese nijûshikô ) by Guo Jujing. This is the first exemplar in the series entitled Xiào Găn Dòng Tiān His Filial Piety Moves Heaven and Earth ...

A finely moulded Arita dish the upper third painted with a simple landscape containing a flowering Japanese Apricot, ume, symbolic of Winter partially “obscured” by the rim of the dish and Bell flowers, kikyo, Gentian, symbolic of Autumn. The remaining lower portion decorated with a stencilled, katagami, brocade pattern of hexagonal diaper with florets. The edge of the dish has a thickly applied dark iron brown glaze...

A fine Kakiemon dish painted with a tako-karakusa, octopus scroll, arabesque ring to the border of the foliate moulded dish. The centre of the dish decorated with a symmetrically arranged ring with a repeating pattern of a stylised Pine grove, matsubara...

An interesting and rare Chinese teapot of conventional bullet form with flanged lid with foo dog finial decorated in a combination of opaque famille rose enamels and translucent famille verte enamels probably dating from the earliest period in the development of the “famille rose palette circa 1720-1725. The subject is that of Li Bai, the famous Tang poet and imbiber of fine wines. Here pictured in one of his famous escapades dressed as a scholar riding a donkey accompanied by a page...

A fine moulded porcelain dish of “Ko Sometsuke” kaiseki type decorated in underglaze blue largely in kakiwake, reverse painted style, with a floral arabesque to the rim. The cavetto plainly painted in blue wash and the well of the dish painted with auspicious pendant Buddhist jewels, yoraku, with three reserves each containing a figure of a Namban in a spotted tunic and hose with a ruff to his neck, and a matching frills to his waist and the hem of his tunic...

A fine Chinese bronze Gu, beaker, form flower vase of elegant elongated form cast with geometric, principally leiwen patterns, with zoomorpihic elements based on a Shang precedent. The design here largely adapted from examples to be found in the famous Song catalogue “Xuanhe Bogu Tu”, notably one example with two opposing worm like creatures incorporated in the central band of decoration. The casting is of excellent quality with a good patina...