This is a superb large Zitan brush pot - decorated over the entire surface with highly intricate designed carving of four dragons in the clouds - three are chasing the tamba , sacred pearl - the other faces head on in the classic Imperial Chinese Dragon posture and clutching the tamba in one claw. The dragons claws have five toes - another feature supposedly reserved for the Imperial art has the gently rounded lip on the upper rim that is characteristic of the earlier pieces...

This is a superb Satsuma vase in a hexagonal shape. On three of the sides are lovely flowers – on the other three sides we find a dragon encircling the entire vase. One side has a design of a flying crane and of the long tailed tortoise known as a Minogame- a sign of longevity. The vase makes extensive use of gosu blue enamel. "Satsuma Gosu Blue" was produced in very limited quantity in Kyoto in the mid-19th century, and is now the most sought after of the Satsuma wares...

Over our years of collecting Japanese ceramics, we have had a number of examples of that fine porcelain known as Satsuma. It is characterized with a fine light ivory crackle ground on which the various designs and pictures are painted in overglaze enamels.

During that time we have seen some dishes, vases and kogos with a floral design that were described as being “Mille-fleur”...

This very delicate Hirado piece is a paper weight (Noshi-Osae) in the form of a branch of plum blossoms. In his book, “Hirado – Price of Porcelain" by Louis Lawrence he states on page 62, Plate 33, that:

“These flowers were made from the late 18th century through most of the early part of the 19th. Unbelievably fragile, it is astonishing that any have survived though there are several examples in museums that are entirely undamaged...

This superb inro suite has a six case inro decorated with two makie Shishis gamboling through the arch of a garden gate. The garden is filled with plum blossom trees. The entire design is done on a sold black – roiro – lacquer with a sprinkling of nashiji on all sides and on the top and bottom. The inner sections of the six cases where they join one another are also executed in the nashiji (pear skin) gold lacquer...

This is one of the most intricate Japanese lacquer kogos we have ever seen or had in our collection. It is done in every style of lacquer in the repertoire - makie, hira-makie – silver – nashiji – etc. all with super detail. The figure of the samurai is in a seated position. His face is executed in a reddish brown color with black eyes and eyebrows – and red lips...

This is a fine blanc de chine figure of a standing elephant with a decoration in relief on the sides of the blanket. The eyes of the elephant have been accented with black enamel. The elephant measures 7” long by 4” high by 3”wide and is in excellent condition. There are no cracks, chips or restorations.

An almost identical elephant is shown on Plate 110 in the standard reference book, “Blanc De Chine” by P.J. Donnelly, Faber and Faber, 1969...

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This is an important pair of superb lacquer kogos in the shape of a male and female Mandarin Ducks. The ducks have superb detail in both gold and silver makie that trace every feature of the birds in exquisite perfection – just see the details to the head, feathers, beaks, wings to see what we mean...

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This is an important pair of superb lacquer kogos in the shape of a male and female Mandarin Ducks. The ducks have superb detail in both gold and silver makie that trace every feature of the birds in exquisite perfection – just see the details to the head, feathers, beaks, wings to see what we mean...

This very fine detailed Hirado water pot is in the shape of a coiled dragon with the middle of the coil holding up a small cup for the water used by the scholar doing calligraphy.. Every aspect of the dragon is executed in extreme detail – the face, the horns, the scales on the body – all close to perfection.

The piece measures 4 5/8” long by 3 ½” wide by 2” high. It is in excellent condition with no chips, hairlines, or restorations...

This is a very dainty miniature basket made of the celebrated Japanese Hirado porcelain. The basket has a double bale handle that slants slightly to one side. Both ends have relief Hirado blue butterflies applied. On two sides of the main body of the basket there are large relief mums with Hirado blue leaves...