Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Chinese (195)

Late Qing Dynasty (late 19th century to 1911) Chinese horn square seal of plain shape with very crisply carved Chinese characters on the base and traces of red seal paste in the grooves. The impression of the seal is shown on Enlargement 1. Beautiful light color horn with old age lines horn, incised character on the top for the owner to know the orientation of the impression. Mellow patina, very nice object for scholar’s table. Height 1 1/4 inches, base 1/2 inches square.

Early 20th century Chinese horn cylindrical seal with very elegantly and crisply carved Chinese characters on the base and traces of red seal paste in the grooves. The impression of the seal is shown on Enlargement 1. Beautiful dark dense horn, natural imperfections in the material. Mellow patina, overall in very good condition. Very nice object for scholar’s table. Height 2 3/16 inches, diameter 9/16 inches.

Late Qing Dynasty (1880s to 1911) Chinese ivory seal of oval section with elegantly and crisply carved Chinese characters on the base and traces of red seal paste in the grooves. The impression of the seal is shown on Enlargement 1. Mellow yellowish patina, overall in very good condition. Very nice object for scholar’s table. Height 1 9/16 inches, base 5/8 inches long.

Late Qing Dynasty (pre 1911) Chinese scholar jadeite seal of irregular rectangular shape. Does not photograph well. Wonderful austere piece appropriate for a scholar’s table, pleasant finish to the stone. The bottom is carved with two raised characters, red seal paste in the grooves. Off-white natural untreated jadeite with touch of green and russet skin areas. Imprint of the seal is shown on Enlargement 1. Height 1 11/16 inches.

17th century small Chinese white stoneware jar with underglaze blue painting. The jar comes from an old Japanese collection, this type of stoneware is known as Swatow ware, but more correctly named as Zhangzhou ware from Fujian province. Beautiful glaze with fine crackle, central register with excellent free painting of stylized Precious Jewel reserves, pendant leaves around its mouth. Very strong piece, has wonderful presence. Height 2 1/4 inches, diameter 2 1/4 inches.

17th century small Chinese white stoneware jar with underglaze blue painting. The jar comes from an old Japanese collection, this type of stoneware is known as Swatow ware, but more correctly named as Zhangzhou ware from Fujian province. Beautiful glaze with fine crackle, central register with excellent free painting of blooming flowers in reserves with stylized waves in between. Pendant leaves around its mouth, old Japanese lacquer repair to the mouth. Very strong piece, has wonderful presence...

19th century Chinese wooden brush rest carved in the form of a crouching dragon. Dense hardwood (must be wood species related to huanghuali), wonderful warm patina, old nicks, ink and water stains adding character to the piece. Clever functional design, very good object for scholar’s desk. Length 4 7/8 inches, height 1 5/16 inches.

Rather unusual late 19th century (late Qing Dynasty) Chinese wooden brush rest carved in a form of a stylized rectangular section bamboo stem terminating with a peach on one end and a pomegranate on the other. Very unusual feature of two tiny elongated drawers coming out of the sides of the brushrest - probably meant for storing small items like tiny brushes or inksticks. Light wood (some sort of pine) with very pleasant transparent red/brown shellac lacquer...

Late 19th century Korean silver coffee spoon with recessed enamel yin/yang symbol surrounded by 4 trigrams from I Ching, the whole design representing the Korean flag. Excellent crisp work, in very good condition, hallmarked in Korean on the stem. Length 5 inches.

19th century Chinese export silver spoon with bamboo shape stem and finial with four roundels containing Chinese characters for longevity, happiness, peace and tranquility. Essentially, the spoon is a good luck charm. Excellent crisp work, in very good condition, Chinese hallmark on the back. Length 4 1/4 inches.

19th century Chinese export silver coffee spoon with bamboo shape stem and Foo lion finial. Excellent crisp work, in very good condition, 2 hallmarks on the back reading WH and 90. Length 4 7/8 inches.

19th century Chinese export silver spoon with the handle decorated in low relief with 2 scholars in a typical landscape of thatched hut and rocks. Excellent crisp work, in very good condition, pleasantly heavy. Two hall marks on the bottom - one in Chinese, the other appears to read HC. Length 5 7/8 inches.

19th century Chinese soapstone seal carved on the top with a Foo lion, its head down to the ground touching a ball. Very beautiful stone with extensive red veining giving extra depth to the carving - probably Shoushan soapstone. Very nice carving, beautiful patina and wear, the bottom is carved with raised characters, red seal paste in the grooves, the impression of the seal is shown on Enlargement 1. Extensive inscription on one side of the seal. Wonderful object for scholar’s table...

19th century Chinese scholar’s rock / brush rest in a form of a piece of malachite perfectly resembling a range of hills covered with green vegetation. Also resembles a snail or a traveling caterpillar, can be viewed from two sides. Shape and colors may suggest a characteristic Guilin landscape of limestone peaks. Excellent natural stone with pleasant patina, fixed in carved fitted rosewood stand. Wonderful object for contemplation on scholar’s desk. Height with stand 2 7/8 inches.

19th century Chinese soapstone seal carved on the top with a crouching rooster, its head turned right. Wonderful carving, beautiful patina and obvious wear attesting to the age of the object. The bottom is carved with four sunken characters that can be translated as THE HALL OF THE COLOURFUL AND THE EXQUISITE, red seal paste in the grooves - the impression of the seal is shown on Enlargement 1...

Rather unusual late 19th century Chinese scholar’s rock made out of a piece of amber. Did not photograph well. Wonderfully translucent when held against light, can be viewed from several sides and conveys a very good feeling of a weathered surface of a mountain. There is an internal energy in the piece - a combination of shape, texture and color of the material. Very nice rosewood fitted stand. Excellent object for scholar’s table. Height with stand 2 3/4 inches.

19th century small Chinese lapis lazuli carving of Buddha Shakyamuni fast asleep as he leans on a rock. Very nice carving, quiet serene face, beautiful stone of bright blue with white veining and gold colored spots. Very pleasant patina, fixed in well carved hardwood stand. Length with stand 2 3/16 inches, height with stand 1 9/16 inches.

Unusual early 19th (can be as early as 18th) century Chinese pewter covered round box, the cover with brass inlay of a flowering bush. Might have been used on scholar’s table for storing small items such as ink cakes. Beautiful patina, pleasantly heavy, wonderful feel of age to the piece. Diameter 3 3/8 inches, height 2 1/4 inches.