Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian (435)

Extremely rare: early 19th century Inkstone Screen made of finest Satsuma porcelain and covered with beautiful colors.

The purpose of the inkstone screen, normally placed directly behind the inkstone, is to prevent dust from landing on the inkstone.

It is in great antique condition with no cracks or repairs.

Size: 17cm hight x 15 cm width.

An antique Khmer Vishnu in mid 11th century, pre-Angkor Baphuon style with a height of 50 cm.

Vishnu is the divine Hindu preserver and protector of human life, a role that provided natural analogies with earthly kingship for the Khmer. The Vishnu embodies authority with its iconic downcast gaze and large unexpressive faces...

An unusual Seto Tea Bowl, shaped like a flower in the upper area, with stunning glaze and a wonderful foot ring, made around 100 years ago during the Taisho Period (1912-1926).

It is in great condition with no chips or cracks - ready to use for the tea ceremony.

Ceramics produced in Seto City are known as Setomono (Seto ware), which has become a generic word for ceramics not only in Japan but also world-wide...

Slightly distorted Kuro Oribe Chawan from the mid 19th century (late Edo) made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potters knife in its lower part and covered with a very deep black iron oxide glaze inside and outside...

A rare Kuro Raku Chawan by the 7th-generation successor of Raku ware, Kichizaemon Chonyu (1714-1770).

It comes in fine antique condition with a very old red Urushi lacquer Kintsugi and its antique wooden box with an attestation and appraisal of the Urasenke Tea House "Shikien" Kyoto, signed and sealed in 1950.

Born as the eldest son of the 6th generation Sanyu, he took over as the head of the family and didn’t retire until age 49, later passing away at age 57...

Rarely seen Japanese Haisen Bowl with wonderful gold Makie (Maki-e), made around 1900 during the Meiji Period (1868 - 1912). The wooden-based bowl is coated with high quality Japanese lacquer.

Seashells are molded and hand-painted inside of the bowl by gold Maki-e technique. This type of bowl is called "HAISEN" in Japanese...

A fine casted Chinese Bronze Guanyin statue from the Ming Dynasty 明朝 (1368-1644) with rests of gilt and a still readable Yongle mark. It comes together with a lacquered wooden stand.

Size: 28 cm high (without stand) - 35 cm high with stand. Weight of the statue 3 KG.

One of such rare antique Hagi Chawan with wonderful glaze and aesthetically pleasing patina from the early 18th century (Edo Period), perfectly thrown and highlighted with an old gold restoration, a fantastic gintsugi (kintsugi) which makes our Hagi tea bowl even more valuable and outstanding.

It comes together with its wooden box and the authentication and appraisal of Soshu Mori, a former chief priest of the Daitoku-Ji Temple 大徳寺 Kyoto...

A rare Japanese Buddhist Bell from the middle of the 18th century in perfect antique condition with no flaws. It is made of alloyed copper.

Bells play a crucial role in a variety of Buddhist services and rituals; their sound is considered auspicious, and is believed to bring peace and comfort to all sentient beings, even those who are suffering in hell.

Size: 15,5 cm high, 7,7 cm width

An antique Bayon bronze style meditation Buddha from the 13th cent., seated on a three-tired throne, with the flaring head of a giant Naga, the serpent King Muchalinda, rising behind protectively behind.

His hands are in the Dhyana mudra, the gesture of Medtiation. The Buddha's face is serene, with a naturalistic and warm expression; his head is topped by a detailed ushnisha, in the Bayon style. The serpent is well rendered and symmetrical...

A beautifully crafted and remarkable example of an early Edo period (1603-1868) Raku Chawan. This bowl is strongly reminiscent of the Chōjirō tea bowls, the first head of the Raku family.

This exceptionally well-crafted tea bowl has a very meditative presence and reveals its highlights of a typically Momoyama Period classic black glaze. It comes with an old Japanese wooden box...

Late Edo (1603-1868) Period Shino Chawan with all highlights of the Japanese aesthetics of wabi sabi. It is in perfect antique condition and comes with its original wooden box, a cloth bag (shifuku) and the attestation of a tea master inside.

Shino-ware dates to the Momoyama period when potters were attempting to recreate white porcelain-wares that were being imported from China at the time. Originally they were made in single-chamber anagama style kilns set into the hillsides...

Jizhou Tortoise Tenmoku tea bowl of Southern Song (around 13th century) with paper-cut Phoenix design. It was once part of the Taiwan National Palace Museum.

This fine Jizhou tea bowl comes with the original storage box of the Museum. The official seal of the Supervisory Committee of the National Palace Museum of Taiwan is on the box.

The Jizhou region located in central Jiangsi province produced its best known wares during Southern Song (1127-1279)...

Beautiful Chinese antique vase, 18th century (Kangxi Period, 1662-1722). It is sculpted in double gourd shape and painted with various scholar scenes and glazed in white and blue. Continuous scenes depicting figures in a landscape are a common motif in Transitional porcelain, they often referenced popular plays, histories or poems...

Hard to find: Large antique Kyo-yaki Suiseiji Mizutori Suichu (also called "mizutsugi").It is a Japanese ewer, an utensil used in the sado and sencha tea ceremony to replenish the jar that holds water for rinsing teabowls and filling the iron kettle at the tea ceremony.

This wonderful antique celadon suichu was made around the end of the 19th century during the Japanese Meiji Period. It bears a spectacular dragon design and engraved patterns outline, a difficult technique which is ...

Pure Kuro-Raku Chawan by the 11th generation Keinyu Kichizaemon (1817-1902) enclosed in its signed and sealed wooden box and made around the end of 19th century about 120-130 years ago. The inside of the wooden box lid bears an appraisal of the 14th headmaster of the Urasenke Tea School, Sekisō Sōshitsu 碩叟 宗室 (1893-1964), Mugensai無限斎.

This Raku chawan is particularly endowed with a structural power deriving from simple composition of features of a bowl - another rem...

A spending antique Chinese Kwan Yin sculpture made in the late Ming Dynasty. Kwan Yin or Guanyin and Avalokiteshvara is the Bodhisattva of compassion. Here she stands samabhanga on a simple base with robes flowing and clinging naturally over and to her long, slender body. Her feet peek from beneath her robes.

Her hands are held with her thumb and middle finger touching in the vitarka mudra of teaching. Her hair is piled high on her head. Her gaze serene and slightly downcast.

A really old Japanese lacquer wooden mizusashi for the tea ceremony, made of cherry wood with its original lacquered lid. It dates from the later Edo Period. Such wooden mizusashis are really rare. It is elegantly proportioned and has a black lacquered interior.

Mizusashi is a fresh water jar with a lid used in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony to fill the boiling kettle and rinse the tea bowls. The mizusashi, which is the first to enter the tea ceremony room and the last to le...

Splendid Kuro Raku Chawan by one of the most important potters of all time, the 3rd Raku Donyu 三代 楽吉左衛門 道入 (1599 - 1656) also known as Nonko. It was made around 1650 and was named 'Hekigan' which means 'Pale blue water of a mountain stream'.

It comes in great antique condition. The wooden box bears sign and seal of Judai Tannyû X Kichzaemon (1794-1854) and the authentication of the 11th Urasenke Generation Seichu Soshitsu (Gengensai, 1810-77).

Donyu, who was Jo...

A rare Seto Chawan with wonderful glaze made by one of the best potters of the early 20th century - the 1st Shuntei Kato (1885 - 1961). This tea bowl was made over 100 years ago and it comes with the originally signed wooden box of the artist.

His real name is Kanae KATO. He was born 1885 as the third son of Shunsen KATO.

In 1907 he established a branch family, named himself Shuntei and became the first generation. They collect old ceramics, study their techniques and prac...

This antique Iga vase is a true beauty, made of wonderful native Iga clay.

The vase was made between 1800 - 1850 during the later Edo Period and is in great antique condition. No chips or repairs. It comes with an old wooden box and an old cloth bag (which has a small torn part).

Iga ware's origins are believed to date to the second half of the 7th century and 8th century A.D. It has been a popular pottery style since the Tsutsui-Momoyama period of Japan, when it was used ...

Impressive antique Kuro Raku Chawan, over 100 years old, by great artist Rintaro Ohashi with family crest. The bowl was made in Taishō era 8 (1919), its also written on the inside of the lid. I comes with the originally signed and sealed wooden box.

No chips or cracks.

Size: 8,2 cm high x 11,8 cm in diameter.

A wonderful modelled Kuro Raku tea bowl covered with a beautiful black glaze - made by legendary 12th generation Kichizaemon Kônyû (1857-1932) in the style of the 8th TOKUNYU, Kichizaemon Raku. The seal of the potter is stamped on the bottom. The original wooden box with his sign and signature is also included.

childhood name was Kozaburo, later became Kicho (or, Yoshinaga). He was the eldest son of Keinyu, the eleventh generation master. In 1871, he succeeded the family busines...

We continue our presentation of Ohi chawan (Ohi tea bowls) with yet another sublime vessel, a true eye-catcher made at the end of the Meiji Period around 1910. It's a unique Ohi Chawan which seems to be a kuro Raku bowl, but it isn't. With its sophisticated shape and its mesmerizing play of different colors of glaze it's outstanding.

The lightness of the clay, the soft silky textures of the glaze, and the mastery of form are all signatures of a kiln of excellence backed by generations o...

One-of-a-kind!!! This is an item sui generis.

A yellow glazed Raku chawan, dating from the Meiji Period (ca. 120 years old) with its originally signed wood box.

The chawan is in superb condition with no chips or cracks. Around the bowl are carved chinese characters. The tea bowl is very solid and fits perfectly into the palm of the hands. Great chawan!

No chips or cracks.

Size: 8,6 cm height x 11,9 cm in diameter.

A magnificent Karatsu Katakuchi Chawan (Karatsu tea bowl with a pouring spout), fired around 1850 during the Edo Period (1603-1868).

It is no exaggeration to say that this tea bowl needs to be described as a true museum quality piece of art.

Especially such old Karatsu bowls are rarely available in the version of a Katakuchi bowl. Essentially, it's a bowl with a spout. But not just any bowl: its details are specially designed for the preparation of Matcha. It allows you to...

An impressive Kuro Raku Chawan made by the legendary 12th generation Kichizaemon Kônyû (1857-1932). The name of the Chawan is „Akebono“ - Sunrise.

His childhood name was Kozaburo, later became Kicho (or, Yoshinaga). He was the eldest son of Keinyu, the eleventh generation master. In 1871, he succeeded the family business and became the generation master. In 1919 he retired and took the name as Kônyû. He enjoyed his retirement in practicing tea ceremony and writing haiku. Hi...

Antique solitary Awara-yaki chawan by great artist Kuze Tensei 久世天声 (1878 - 1933) around 1915 (Meiji Period).

He studied art under Yamada Kei while working as a teacher at Ishikawa Technical Senior High School. In 1914, he moved to Awara Onsen in Fukui Prefecture (a classic hot spring town) where he set up a studio and kiln and created Awara-yaki using clay from the area to produce Kyo-ware style ceramics, which often won prizes in exhibitions.

The Kuze name is ...

One of a kind: Edo Period Ichimonji Utsushi Raku Chawan on high flared and cut (warikodai) foot by the 11th Zengoro Eiraku (Eiraku Hozen), made in the mid 19th century. A horizontal line is molded on the body, it's the Japanese character "ichi" - one!. (Please see last picture to see an antique Ichimonji Chawan in Korean style from the Ulrich Vollmer Collection Berlin). This is one of the rare tea bowls of Eiraku Hozen fired with a lower temperature in the style of Raku ceramics. Beside th...

An antique Khmer wood sculpture of Jayavarman VII /Mahā Paramasangata Pada), added to our family collection in 1930 from a private Japanese collection. It was made in mid 19th century.

Lacking any royal or divine attributes, this King Jayavarman VII statue represents a simple, spiritual man.

His facial expression is accentuated by semi-closed eyes, a slight smile, large forehead, lips that are neither thin nor thick, and long ear lobes. All of these traits represent the ...

An antique Khmer stone sculpture of Mahā Paramasangata Pada (Jayavarman VII), added to our family collection in 1930 from a private Japanese collection. It was made in mid 19th century.

Lacking any royal or divine attributes, this King Jayavarman VII statue represents Buddha as a simple, spiritual man.

His facial expression is accentuated by semi-closed eyes, a slight smile, large forehead, lips that are neither thin nor thick, and long ear lobes. All of these traits r...

Heavily distorted shoe shaped (kutsu) Kuro Oribe Chawan from the mid 19th century (late Edo) with a strongly flaring mouth made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potters knife in its lower part and covered with a very deep black iron oxide glaze inside and outside.

A window has been left unglazed and shows a typical Momoyama era design. The somewhat irregular foot reminds of the late production of Oribe tea bowls of the 1620-ies at th...

Late Edo (1603-1868) Period Shino Chawan with all highlights of the Japanese aesthetics of wabi sabi and a Zen buddhistic infinity symbol.

It is in perfect antique condition and comes with an antique wooden box.

Shino-ware dates to the Momoyama period when potters were attempting to recreate white porcelain-wares that were being imported from China at the time. Originally they were made in single-chamber anagama style kilns set into the hillsides. Later, with the advent of...

Up for sale is this magnificent and high class set of a tea pot and a tea container made of wood and covered in lacquer with elaborate maki-e, applied with gold designs. Both pieces of art have perfectly fitting maki-e wooden stands. This set was made at the end of the 19th century.

The set is in superb antique condition with no chips, cracks or repairs.

Maki-e (蒔絵, literally: sprinkled picture) is Japanese lacquer sprinkled with gold or silver powder as a decoration ...

A flawless and covered Japanese Mizusashi (cold water container/stoneware jug) for the tea ceremony from the early Edo period.

This antique Seto Mizusashi is designed with floral motives and Japanese poetry and comes with a dedicated tomobako wooden box.

Although the Japanese word for the tea ceremony, chanoyu, literally means “hot water for tea,” the practice involves much more than its name implies. Chanoyu is a ritualized, secular practice in which tea is consumed ...

A beautifully crafted and remarkable example of Edo period Raku pottery. Iridescent reds rise like a deep space cloud from the meteoric surface of this 300 year old Kuro Raku Chawan.

This exceptionally well-crafted tea bowl has a very meditative presence and reveals its highlights of various shades of red through a classic black glaze when held up to the light.

Characterized by a complex glaze texture achieved through kiln firing in contrast to the simplicity of the form.

A large Kuro-Oribe chawan, hand thrown and carved from fine Mino clay during the later Meiji Period (1868 - 1912). It comes with a very good Japanese wooden box.

Oribe-yaki – I guess no other pottery had a greater influence on the aesthetics of Japanese pottery.

Oribe ware is a historically important Japanese pottery variety that emerged during the late Momoyama and early Edo periods in Tajimi, in modern day Gifu prefecture.

Developed under and named after th...

One of the extremely rare Raku tea bowls by one of the best artists in the history of Japan, Eiraku Hozen, made during the late Edo Period.

Eiraku's style includes all ceramic techniques of China, Korea and Japan, which were appreciated at that time, such as Cochin, celadon, blue and white porcelain, Raku-yaki, Shunsui, Akae, Kinrande, Jinsei copies and Goryeo copies. With his diverse resources, he has created a new tea pottery that goes beyond mere imitation and reflects the taste...

An antique 11th century Mon Buddha, mounted to a custom made wooden base.

The figure is is stood samabhanga and is remarkable for its realistic yet delicate delineation of the limbs and the robe which seems to cling to the body.

The garment (sanghati) covers both shoulders. The right hand is held out in the vitarka mudra of teaching. The lowered left hand grants boons in the varada mudra.

A very naturalistic succession of wavy folds on the surface of his body ...

An antique 18th century Chinese Bronze Buddha seated in the varda or granting of Boons mudra. 

This lovely Buddha is seated in the lotus or Padmasana position, with each foot placed on the opposite thigh. His robes cascade fluidly from his left shoulder.  His robe is draped to leave the right shoulder bare, and a portion of the garment that covers the left wrist falls behind the figure.

The lower hem of the robe comes all the way down so that the undercloth or skirt...

Early 17th century (Edo Period 1603-1868) distorted shoe shaped (tsutsugata) white Shino Chawan with a rounded brim, made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife in the lower part of the body and around the foot ring.

This bowl was covered with a white Shino type of ash glaze. Under the transparent glaze two young pine tries were painted in iron oxide.

The young pine tree decoration is a popular attribute of New Y...

Very sophisticated and fine mid Edo Period Hirado Mizusashi for the Japanese Tea Ceremony with its original lid.

Hirado wares—alternately known as Mikawachi wares in some contexts—are known throughout Japan and also abroad for their high quality and fine craftsmanship and date back at least as far as the mid-18th century when they were produced exclusively for powerful lords and their families. During this time Hirado ware was popular for the water jars used to hold the cold wa...

One of the best tea bowls I have ever seen. Wonderful Raku Chawan in the style of Donyu (Nonko III) Kichizaemon, made by greatest Raku 12th generation Kônyû Kichizaemon. Holding this masterpiece is like a universe held in the palms of your hands.

Among the various generations of the Kichizaemon family, it has always been customary to devote themselves artistically to at least one of their ancestors and produce a work of art commemorating the great work of their ancestors. And so d...

An extremely rare perfectly potted Zheghu Ban Partridge Breast mottled Tenmoku tea bowl. Looking inside this Tenmoku chawan is like glazing deep into the cosmos. There one can understand the meaning of microcosm and ask whether one is looking inward or outward; probably both.

The bowl gets its uniqueness from the fact that the glaze looks like a highly rare mixture of partridge-breast mottles that nearly look like oil-spots.

Cizhou-type ware, Southern Song 12th - early 13...

Hard to find nowadays: fairly shoe shaped (kutsugata) tea bowl, made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was covered with a potter's knife in its shoulder and around the foot ring.

The brim of this bowl covered with a green copper oxide glaze and the lower part was left unglazed and decorated in iron oxide with buddhist wheel of law on two opposite sides over which finally a transparent ash glaze was applied. The wheels were additionally highlighted with...

What a rare and impressive Chawan, made during the mid Edo Period (1603-1868) - Seto-Karatsu Kutsu Chawan with a wonderful shape and a vivid Seto glaze, which which partly looks like the glaze of Chinese Song-Dynasty Tenmoku tea bowls. Really one of a kind.

It has no chips, cracks or repairs and comes with an old Japanese wooden box. The inside of the lid bares the appraisal of the first Mashimizu Zoroku 初代 真清水蔵六 (1822-1877). Shimizu Tasaburo the First learned pottery...

A very rare, noble and artful Hirado Chawan with traces of playful glaze surrounding the bowl like icing. It dates from the Meiji Period (1868-1912) and is in great antique condition with no chips, cracks or repairs.

Since such tea bowls are very rare to find, it is a wonderful addition to any serious collection of Japanese tea ceramics.

Hirado wares—alternately known as Mikawachi wares in some contexts—are known throughout Japan and also abroad for their high quality ...

What an amazing statue: early 18th century four-armed Avalokiteshvara purple bronze Buddha, the Bodhisattva of infinite compassion.

The statue is made of high class purple bronze, with rests of gilt and color, very impressing with 51 cm (20'') height and a weight of approx. 10kg.

Spontaneous as a poet’s imagination, or the flow of the waters of a rivulet descending down a mountain peak, there seems to flow in the fluidity of the lines and contours of the statue the com...

One of the very rare Buddhist Tea Bowls with a sculptural image of Bodhidharma Daruma. The incomparable Seto-yaki tea bowl was made at the end of 19th century and is in great antique condition with no cracks or repairs.

The historical Bodhidharma (known as Daruma in Japan) was an Indian sage who lived sometime in the fifth or sixth century AD. He is commonly considered the founder of Chan (Zen) Buddhism 禅, and credited with Chan's introduction to China. (Important Note: Zen is the...

A striking late 19th century Shigaraki Chawan with one of the most beautiful Kintsugi repairs we have ever seen. A mixture of lacquer and gold powder showing a traditional Karakusa pattern - a real unicum.

This aesthetically pleasing highest quality Kintsugi gold repair was made and in 1974 by Arakawa Kentaro, former master craftsman of the Tokyo National Museum.

The 'kara' of Karakusa means 'China', while 'kusa' means 'plant'. The Karakusa pattern came to Japan from China...

Perfectly shaped Shino Chawan with beautifully crackled Shino glaze and with the image of 3 Noh mai dancers.

It is extremely rare to find an antique tea bowl with a Noh mai dance motif.

This Chawan was made at the end of the 19th century. The signature of the artist is inscribed close to the foot ring.

Noh mai means „traditional movement“ and came from China to western Japan It was heavily influenced by the elegance and sophistication of the manners often a...

A magnificent Kogaratsu Katakuchi Chawan (Ko-Karatsu tea bowl with a pouring spout), fired between the Azushi Momoyama period (1573-1603) and the early stage of the Edo Period (1603-1868).

It is no exaggeration to say that this tea bowl needs to be described as a true museum quality piece of art.

Especially such old Karatsu bowls are rarely available in the version of a Katakuchi bowl. Essentially, it's a bowl with a spout. But not just any bowl: its details are special...

One of a kind - a rare 17th century Kiyomizu Chawan with a wonderful thick and vivid hand painted Sakura scenery. Such old Kiyomizu items in perfect antique condition are very, very rare.

It comes with an antique wooden box.

Kyo ware/Kiyomizu ware are works of art that illustrate the scenery of the four seasons in Kyoto or feature drawings that bring good luck. A lot of the vessels are made by using the technique wherein the clay is baked once before being painted. They...

A beautiful example of an antique Shigaraki Tsubo (storage jar) Vase displaying classic Shigaraki markings of red ochre, pale and natural ash glaze.

This eye-catching tsubo dates back to the the beginning of the 17th century, early Edo Period (1603-1868).

Standing in front of this massive tsubo with its aesthetic form, its Higaki Mon (檜垣文, cypress fence pattern), its rough natural glazes and sparkling tsuchi-aji (clay flavor), one cannot help but feel in awe of thei...

A beautiful example of Shigaraki pottery—the result of techniques perfected over centuries by dedicated artisans residing in the provinces east of Kyoto. This piece achieves a kind of asymmetrical balance of both form and color, displaying classic Shigaraki markings of emerald green, red ochre, and pale ash.

The Shigaraki kilns in Shiga prefecture have been an active pottery centre since the Kamakura period (1185–1333) and continue to produce pottery up to the present day. Like...

One of such rare antique Hagi Chawan with wonderful milky white glaze from the 18th century, perfectly thrown and highlighted with an old gold restoration, a fantastic gintsugi (kintsugi) which makes our Hagi tea bowl even more valuable and outstanding.

Like many of the great Japanese ceramic traditions of western Japan, Hagi originated with Korean potters. Indeed, in the Momoyama era (1573-1603) and in the early years of the Edo period (1603 - 1867), ceramics like Karatsu, Agano, ...

We are glad to present you this Edo period chawan by Japans greatest Poet Rengetsu Ōtagaki ( 1791-1875 ).

It shows a 31-syllable poem of herself and her signature tastefully carved onto the tea bowl. The poem says:

おともせず

ふるとも見えぬ

朝じめり

枝おもげ成

青柳のいと

Without a sound

rain falls, also unseen

the morning wetness

in heavily sagging

fronds of green ...

A beautiful example of an antique Shigaraki Tsubo (storage jar) Vase displaying classic Shigaraki markings of emerald green, red ochre, pale and natural ash glaze.

The eye-catching natural green glaze flows from the mouth over the massive body of this jar from the mid Edo Period (1603-1868)

Standing in front of the large tsubo with its aesthetic form, jewel-like natural glazes, and sparkling tsuchi-aji (clay flavor), one cannot help but feel in awe of their makers, and...

A wonderful modelled Kuro Raku tea bowl covered with a beautiful black glaze - made by legendary 12th generation Kichizaemon Kônyû (1857-1932). His childhood name was Kozaburo, later became Kicho (or, Yoshinaga). He was the eldest son of Keinyu, the eleventh generation master. In 1871, he succeeded the family business and became the generation master. In 1919 he retired and took the name as Kônyû. He enjoyed his retirement in practicing tea ceremony and writing haiku.

His Kuro ...