Catalog (186)

A fine, modern footed dish with red, green and yellow overglaze and with cobalt blue and manganese underglaze decoration. The hexagonal, everted rim with red border defining a cloud band around conforming hexagonal cavetto with chidori (sparrows) alternating with polychrome squares - borders of decoration all picked out with manganese (giving an iron effect but fading nicely into the blue decoration rather than spoiling it with fade to brown. The splayed foot with a cloud pattern in modern interpretation of the Nabeshima tradition. As we describe this unusual object, it should become more apparent that it is rather substantial (though small, sturdy potting) and not commercial production. The dish - top and bottom - as well as the foot retains impressed decoration and texture in the porcelain over which the decoration was added with deference... the blue glaze, for example, lightly filling the recesses of, perhaps, a hemp impression over a more broadly ridged surface and leaving the highpoints almost white. The same molded and impressed texture can be felt top and bottom of the dish and the cloud pattern on the foot can also be felt when running one's finger along the decoration. The unglazed foot rim reveals a fine, white kaolin with smooth feel to the touch. Unfortunately, though the molded and impressed decoration rather nicely retained texture, a square impressed mark inside the foot did not and offers no legible mark. We are comfortable proposing an attribution to Hajime Kato (1900 - 1968) but can not make any definitive claim and estimate accordingly. Perfect condition. Diameter, point to point, 6 3/4 inches (17.145 cm). Height, 2 1/4 inches (5.715 cm)

The large vase with silver wire cloisonne on ceramic with "tree bark" textured surface. Decoration of butterflies and peonies, with the blooms depicted in enamel tones of sienna, umber and dark mica, and the stems and leaves in dark green - almost black. The body of the vase covered with a dark, warm brown lacquer on intentionally course texture like tree bark - which it emulates. The Kyoto, crackle glazed greyish porcelain body visible from the foot. Taisho era (1912 - 1926). Good condition. Height: 12 1/2 inches (31.75 cm)

An iron, Ko-Tosho (early sword smith's) tsuba. The slightest taper from seppa dai towards rim. Pierced decoration. Purchased from Andy Quirt (ex Skip Holbrook collection) at the February 2016 Tampa show, he thought it depicted gourds. I guess the beholder might see different things. I see Japanese eggplants on leafy vine (two fruit and two leaves) supported by a bamboo trellis. An uncommon and well executed, balanced decoration. The hitsu-ana appears to be original to the tsuba. Late Muromachi. Good condition - has seen some pitting in the past but now stable (chalk it up to tekkotsu, history and character - tekkotsu attractively conspicuous on the rim), well worn to the touch, and with a good, dark patina. 2 7/8" (7.3 cm) marugata. 1/8" (3.17 mm) thick at the mimi. 3/16" (4.47 mm) thick at the seppa-dai.

A good Chinese boxwood carving of Budai. Three children clamor over him. A bat appears on his right hand. Bone and horn inlays detail his eyes and teeth. Rich, mellow old patina. Nice grain figure in places. Late Qing to early Republic. Ca 1900. Very good condition with typical minor distress checks in the old hardwood surface. Remnants of old label. Height, about 4 5/8 inches high.

American Federal period mahogany lolling chair. Sparse, fine line inlay decoration. Late 18th century. Good condition. Seat height a little low from wear to legs. Seat height about 15 inches. Back height about 40 inches. Width roughly 24 inches.

I visited the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington DC a little more than a year ago and saw some really creative ceramics with leather incorporated into the composition among related, sculptural works. It did make a spontaneous and lasting impression that led me to recognize and purchase a wonderful and unusual work by the same hand found in an antiques and collectibles market.

Featured here is a monumental mixed media salt glazed pottery charger. My first impression was a landscape with sun (concentric iron colored circles on clay body) on the horizon (leather upon iron colored band) over blue colored area (suggesting water?) Where the horizon meets is reminiscent of Rothko. But the hanger suggests it may have been intended with the concentric rings below, as if a valley. The blue area, in that case, might represent the sky (if indeed it is intended as a landscape.) The horizon would not sit level if the hanger shows intent. One might also remove the hanger and place as a centerpiece. The charger is signed "TURKER GWU CORCORON [sic] 1971".

The artist is Turker Ozdogan, Fellow of Corcoran College of Art and Design. He also received an MFA at George Washington University. As faculty, he established the ceramics program at GWU and continues as the Director. Ozdogan previously received recognition from the Applied Fine Arts School, Istanbul, the Eczacibasi Ceramics Factory also in Turkey, and Furst Adolf Werkstatte Fur Keramik, Buckeburg, Germany. He has achieved recognition, awards or exhibitions with Corcoran Gallery of Art, the International Monetary Fund, the World bank, Meridian House, and the United Nations Plaza, Turkevi Gallery. His work has been featured in the press and in publications and is in many private and public collections including The George Washington University Permanent Collection, and Kale Ceramics Museum, Turkey. Condition is good. Diameter, 22 inches.

Have not found other works available on the market and no archival basis to establish comparative value. The artist is apparently aesthetically rather than commercially motivated. This will be weighty and careful packing so at the buyer's expense.

A Japanese lacquer bowed top box with portrait of a Kabuki actor - presumably named in gold lacquer and the role of Daihachi named in a lustrous iron color. All slightly raised work, the portrait is in gray, black, red, flesh tone, browns and gold. Lines including pattern and folds in the figure's attire and hair in his coiffure and sideburns cleanly defined with raised work. Metal along the facing edges of the top and bottom have no doubt contributed nicely to the preservation of the box. Actor portraits being not uncommon in woodblock prints, we have only found one example in lacquer - an important inro sold by Bonhams in May 2011. The present box is not signed and does not enjoy the colorful provenance of the Bonhams' inro. The condition of this box is fair with small losses on corners and edges (see our illustrations), light surface wear and need of a cleaning. The top has a very slight warp mostly along the length so that the facing metal edges do not rest entirely flush on one side (otherwise would not be noticed and probably not surprising with a little shrinkage over time.) There is no wrinkling, no blisters, no peeling at all to the lacquer (solid work.) This should touch up and clean up nicely in the hands of a qualified lacquer conservationist. It was difficult to capture the raised work in our photographs. Our last enlargements are taken close and under direct halogen light at angles that distort the composition and exaggerate wear but which highlight the raised work. Length, 6 inches (15.24 cm), Width 3 3/8 inches (8.57 cm), Height 1 1/2 inches (3.81 cm). Late Meiji, possibly early Taisho.

A fine little Hirado figural group depicting two karako playing with a Shishi-mai (lion dance) mask. Sharply modeled with incised details and sparse blue, aubergine and black underglaze decoration. The karako's eyes, the lion mask and the underside unglazed. The biscuit surface of the lion mask intentionally oxidized to an even, light buff tone. Good condition with only a few tiny "flea bite" surface flakes one must look closely for and not detracting (our close images depict them larger than life with commentary in the captions.) Length, 3 1/8 inches (7.94 cm). Height, 2 1/2 inches (6.35 cm)

A rare late Koryo dynasty Punch’ong bottle vase. Olive toned green ware glaze simply but finely decorated with off-white skip within carved pattern. Height, about 3 5/8 inches. Excellent condition and conveying with Japanese collector’s box. 14th century

A fine 19th century classical rosewood canterbury. The four compartments separated by three rail and stile partitions with handle, enclosed by openwork lyre sides and turned corner posts with finials, all over two drawer case raised on turned feet. Wonderfully appropriate for a period music room. The two drawers likely cost the patron a pretty penny in the period and are not commonly encountered. Secondary woods (exhibiting only hand rendered kerf marks) include red cedar and chamfered poplar for the drawers, and red cedar and knotty pine for the case. Note the darker oxidation (as expected) on the exposed lower drawer bottom. Probably American, inspired by Regency design. Compare with Neal's 2005 Winter Estates Auction lot 261 which lacked case and drawers. Very good condition save some rosewood veneer loss on one side lyre (see third enlargement - a minor consideration easily restored - we will not.) This will ship oversized or by special delivery service at buyer's expense. Length 20 1/2 inches (52cm), Height 18 inches (45.7cm), Depth 14 1/2 inches (36.8cm).

A fine little octagonal blue and white porcelain kakiemon style deep dish. Chocolate brown glazed rim, white body and clear glaze over cobalt blue decoration of a primitive, raised teahouse with loose thatch roof and slung entrance screen all under a large willow tree and, conspicuously, a spiderweb (perhaps to emphasize closeness to nature) in the foreground. The interior wall and rim decorated with repeating pattern and karakusa (scrolling vine and leaf). Karakusa also appearing on the exterior wall. Blue rings around the foot, a blue ring inside the foot centering a mark - appears to read Yoshi and Ga (Ka) and possibly another stylized character from the center line. One might call it a variant on the Fuku mark in this context but it looks rather like an artist and possibly a place reference for a private kiln (which would have been Daimyo sponsored in the period). The mark on the verso is aligned with the decoration on the front - an indication of attention to detail expected also of authentic fine Chinese ceramics. An extraordinary work, finely potted and deftly painted. Very good condition with light rubbing on the interior from wear and a small kiln fault there where the glaze crawled a little. Certainly early 18th century and not implausibly reaching to the end of the Genroku era (1704). About 5 1/4 inches (13.34 cm) diamater at the sides, 5 5/8 inches (14.3 cm) diameter at the corners, about 1 5/16 inch (3.33 cm) high.

A well made 19th century Japanese porcelain haisen (sake up rinser on stem foot). Rare Shunga decoration depicting a bondage scene within the bowl. The manner of the painted decoration in comic fashion similar to that found on some shunga makimono. Shunga paintings and prints are rare enough but encountered. Edo period porcelains with shunga decoration are exceedingly rare. Good condition. Height, 4 1/2 inches. Diameter, 6 3/4 inches.

A fine Japanese blue and white porcelain dish. The foliate rim with chocolate brown glaze, the white porcelain body and glaze, and the fine attention to detail all suggest Kakiemon type. The cavetto with decoration of flowering plants including peonies, prunus and others. The center decorated with a bird (perhaps a flycatcher) in fruited branches, rockery and bamboo leaves below. Both the cavetto and center with reverse technique where the underglaze cobalt blue forms the background of the decoration. Finely defined chatter marks inside the footrim centering five spur marks. Remnants of an old label adhere to the back. The decoration has the feel of Chinese inspiration. Emulation of traditional Chinese porcelain decoration, and certainly Chinese porcelain marks, is not without basis. I have not come upon quite this decoration before and would consider it, along with the quality of this work, to be rare and early - probably Genroku era. One hairline issues from the rim where a flake on the front has an old repair, otherwise good condition. This dish would be an excellent candidate for a proper kintsugi (gold lacquer) repair. Diameter 8 7/8 inches (22.5 cm), Height 1 1/16 inch (2.7 cm).

A 19th century American folk art painting. Oil on canvas. Table top still life of bountiful agricultural harvest and a pineapple likely from port trade (pineapples were popular import produce in 19th century port cities and much can be read of pineapples in American tradition and design - most notably relating to hospitality.) Relined - otherwise good, clean and bright condition. Stretcher dimensions 30 1/2 inches x 25 1/4 inches. We acquired this in the late 90s from a long time Georgetown period furniture dealer (and Trocadero member) who had this in his own dining room for years. We have, also, enjoyed it in ours since but it is now time to lighten up as we prepare for a distant move.

A German, domed top chest with ornamental hand wrought iron hardware, heavily oxidized and worn original surface and paint, and marked in white “T Adam Schuch reifst nach New York”. The chest looks like 17th century work. The name and destination likely added in the 18th century upon immigration. Reasonably good decoration considering the history. Length, 35 inches. Height, 17 1/2 inches. Depth, 18 1/2 to 19 inches (varying due to movement of the wood at the joinings).

A classical mahogany card table. Hepplewhite manner square tapered legs and wood inlaid fine lines and decoration. Probably American Federal and likely mid Atlantic to Southern. Acquired in Virginia. Ca 1800. Good, conserved condition. Height 28 inches, width 35 inches, depth 17 3/4 inches.

A fine and rare Pennsylvania Dutch Amish folk art candle box carved from a single piece of yellow pine (no joining at all). The interior hollowed and the interior sides hand planed. One side with bas relief carved hex motifs. The other side with the initials, IF and IB (if read left to right, though not sure of the intended order), likely of a married couple and with other carved and incised adornment including hearts. Fitted, sliding top (the only exception to it being wholly one piece). Possibly a wedding gift. At least 19th century and possibly 18th century. In addition to the distinctly Dutch Amish carved decoration, yellow pine is typical of the Pennsylvania home to the community - used extensively in furniture of the region. Wonderful, lovingly used condition with undisturbed patina. Very good condition with expected wear and natural checking along the wood grain. Length, up to 15 1/4 inches at the longest points (with variation to about 15 inches at points)

A large Korean black lacquered wood box with mother of pearl inlay. The depiction of pairs of cranes and songbirds within the decorative panels likely relevant to a wedding gift.. Joseon dynasty, 19th century. Condition is fair to good, with some some light loss to inlays and minor distress from age and use. From the hardware, 19 1/4 inches wide, 10 1/8 inches deep, 10 3/4 inches high.