Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Chinese (180)

Gong-shaped brush washer for use on scholar’s table. Covered overall in a glossy, clear glaze and decorated only with two concentric rings of cobalt blue encircling the mouth. The clear glaze reveals the fine white porcelain body. There are a few characteristic pinholes in the glaze on both the exterior and interior surfaces. The narrow, well-carved footring is unglazed, showing the dense white porcelain paste. There is a Kangxi mark in underglaze blue on the base. The mark is well-written in the typical standard six-character script usually seen on this type of brush washer. Very small, almost invisible hairline on the lip, otherwise very good condition.

Diameter: 4 ½ in.; Height: 1 ¼ in.; Footring: 3 ½ in. diameter

This opposing pair of brush pots is decorated overall with a design of objects from a scholar's studio including vases, incense burners, table screens, etc. Identical inscriptions in black enamel on each make reference to antique vessels and end with an artist's seal in red enamel. The enamels are in good condition without cracks or damages, nor any restorations. The interiors are enameled throughout in turquoise. The bottoms have a somewhat uneven turquoise enameling.

Height: 4 ¾ in., Diameter: 2 ¼ in.

This cylindrical seal is fashioned from a very pale yellowish-green soapstone and incised on one end with archaistic characters encircled by a shallow incised ring. Otherwise, the seal is undecorated and has a pleasant, satiny sheen from age and use. There are numerous old small chips and wear to the edges of the carved end but not on the characters. This piece has the mellow appearance of an object that was used over a long period of time. The stone is lightly veined and mottled and shows a bit of red streaking on the carved face. There is also a faint remnant of red seal paste in the incising.

Height: 3 15/16 in.; Diameter: 1 ¾ in. carved end, 1 5/8 in. top end

This slightly-waisted bottle vase is of a rich lavender red tone infused with overall speckling of deep red. The red glaze drains to a buff colored ring around the lip and continues into the interior for an inch or two. The glaze stops very evenly just above the neatly trimmed footring. A four-character seal mark in underglaze colbalt blue is centered within a circle of clear glaze that is bordered with two incised concentric rings. The rest of the base is unglazed , showing the fine, white porcelain paste. Excellent condition.

Height: 8 3/4 in., Diameter: 4 1/8 in.

White glass made to imitate jade, good condition.

Diameter: 3 3/8 in. ext., 2 5/8 in. int.

Painted in a rich cobalt blue under the glaze with rapid brush strokes in a zenga-like manner, depicting a scholar in his studio. The literatus leans against his table on top of which is placed a brush pot and incense burner. Part of his garden is visible in the background and a six-character poem is seen penned on the upper-left. The back is painted with four stylized designs, and the base has a hastily-drawn two-character seal mark within a double circle The footring is unglazed, revealing the hard white paste that is now somewhat obscured by old soiling. The dish is in very good condition, having no chips, cracks, or restorations.

Diameter: 7 3/8 in., Height: 1 ½ in.

This tubular shaped holder is partially hollowed on one end in order to receive a peacock feather decoration. The jade is a white tone with white mottling and a very slight hint of green when held to the light. It has a soft polish and even wear from use. Good condition.

Length: 2 ½ in., Diameter: ¾ in.

This dish is decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with a design of three men playing a game of “go.” It was recovered from a shipwreck site in the Southern Philippines off the coast of Mindanao. There is a slight pitting to the glaze overall from years of submersion. There is also a tiny rim chip and very small areas of rim fritting. The glazed base displays a hastily drawn seal mark expressing luck or good wishes. The footring is unglazed exposing the white paste.

Diameter: 5 3/8 in., Height: 1 3/8 in.

This incense burner is cast bronze in a bombe form, having a brownish patina with small patches of verdigris. The base is caste with a six-character Xuande mark (though not of the period). The interior shows evidence of long use and has some areas of verdigris. It is set on a flaring footring which echoes its rather thick flaring lip. There is evidence of wear and use and some tiny nicks to one handle. It is in generally good condition. Purchased in London in 1978.

Height: 3 3/8 in., Width: 8 ¾ in. over handles

This molded porcelaneous stoneware figure is covered in yellow, green and aubergine enamels with black underglaze feather details. The base is unglazed. It is in good condition with some soiling from age.

Height: 7 in.

This very slightly flaring turned huang huali wood brush pot has a well-figured grain and a honey brown tone. The interior has blackened with age and use. It retains its original plug in the base, with it having having some losses to the edges. The exterior base appears to be dark lacquered with some tinges of red showing through. This piece is a well-used scholar's item. It is in generally good condition. Acquired in the early 1980s from a Raleigh, North Carolina estate.

Height: 4 ½ in., Diameter: 3 5/8 in.

Small beehive-form pot is covered in a rich, lustrous copper-red glaze that drains to a pale celadon tone on one side. The interior is glazed white with the glaze crackles being highlighted by ink staining from long term use. The copper has drained from the mouth leaving the often seen attractive white ring. The glaze stops at the beginning of the foot which though left unglazed has burnt a pale orange tone in the firing. The foot has kiln grit adhering to it from the sandy clay pad on which it was fired. The base is glazed and has a pale celadon tone. This piece has seen much use and there are areas of old ink residue around the mouth and interior. The potting of the mouth is slightly uneven but not damaged.

Purchased in Japan in the 1970s

Height: 2 in.; Diameter: 2 1/8 in.

Skillfully painted on the interior with a scene of a mountainous landscape with waterfalls and scholars’ residences, loosely in the manner of the late Ming/early Ching artist, Wang Jian.

The transparent glass is slightly grayish in tone and the vase’s interior has been evenly ground to create a frosted background to the painting. The artist was probably a professional snuff bottle painter.

Interior painting is completely intact. Very small rim flaw, otherwise excellent condition.

Height: 9 ¼ in.

This toggle is carved from a single piece of carnelian agate of a rich brownish-orange tone and utilizes the naturally occurring white layer to produce a cameo of an elderly man, possibly a Taoist figure. The reverse is carved with a monkey climbing a banana tree with what appears to be a ruyi fungus. There are several holes or pits incorporated into the design, three of which are carved through allowing for attachment to a cord or chain. The deep colored stone has a few areas of lighter and darker shades running through it, and a few minor flaws. Acquired in the 1960s from a South Carolina collection.

Height: 1 5/8 in., 1 ¼ in., Width: 1 ¼ in., Thickness: 7/8 in.

Carved from a jade-like hardstone (possibly serpentine). Rectangular form with a slightly raised grinding surface bordered by a narrow, raised perimeter with a carved depression for water at the top end. Very good condition with no cracks. There is some wear to the grinding surface and to the base. Old patina with old light soiling.

4 ½ in. x 3 3/8 in. x ¾ in.

The wood appears to be old jichi wood that is exceptionally well-carved with twisting tree trunks of pine and plum intertwined to form the body, while stylized pine needles and plum blossoms encircle the perimeter. The pine and plum trunks are carved to show their contrasting textures. The piercing and depth of the carving give an energetic quality to the piece. Based on the carving, this stand was not intended as a fitted stand for a particular vase or sculpture. It may have been used as a brush rest or a wrist rest. The patina is a rich brown with an overall soft polish. The underside shows wear in the form of smoothness from use.

Length: 6 in., Width: 2 5/8 in., Height: 1 1/8 in.

This bowl is decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with a stylized design of two birds perched on a sprig of flowers and encircled by stems covered in little round buds, giving the design an abstract quality. The base is unglazed and shows the characteristic chatter marks from the trimming, often seen on Tianqi wares. The footring is unglazed with numerous sand grains adhering. The outer sides have two hastily drawn circles and X's. There is considerable rim fritting as seen on most porcelains of this period. There is a small rim chip, also. It was probably shipped to Japan for use in the Japanese tea ceremony, shortly after it was made. Tianqi porcelains were in high demand among tea ceremony practitioners, even in the 1970s, when this piece was acquired.

Height: 2 in., Diameter: 6 1/8 in.

This circular box is lacquered in brownish black with mother of pearl inlay encircling the lid which is well-fitted to the bottom box. The top is painted in slightly-raised gilt lacquer with two characters: “fu” and “shou,” for happiness and longevity. There is light wear to the edges of the lid, inner rims and to the base, as would be expected, and also a few minor touch-ups. Overall, considering the age and use, the box is in good condition with the mother of pearl all intact.

Diameter: 8 3/8 in., Height: 2 ½ in.,