Catalog (22)

This incense-burner was cast with Mongolian script encircling body and has two handles with lion masks. It is raised on a slightly flaring footring and a slightly convex base showing wear and an old original surface with a mottled brown patina. The Bombay form rises to end in a flattened rim displaying evidence of long, continued use. The grayish-bronze interior shows its use as an incense burner. An old crack is visible to the head of one handle.

Width: 5 in. across handles, Height: 2 5/8 in., Weight: 302 grams exactly, about 10 ½ oz.

This two-part buckle is formed with a dragon head clasp on one piece, and the other is slotted for hooking under the dragon's head. Each has a central medallion cast in low relief of a double gourd “magic elixir” bottle. Both pieces are finished with a stylized bat motif. The underside of each has two attached pieces to receive the belt. Much gilding remains on the fronts, though worn. The reverse of each is ungilded and has old natural patina from use.

Clasped length: 3 ¾ in., Width: 7/8 in.

This finely cast figure, seated in vajrasana or lotus position on a double lotus base, holds in the left hand a stem of lotus with the right middle finger touching the thumb. The flowing robe is open at the chest and drapes over the right shoulder. The borders and lower portions of the robe are incised with scrolling floral motifs. The facial features with slight downcast eyes are crisply rendered and the hair is well-defined. Attached to the back of the figure is a flaming mandorla which is possibly not original to the figure. The base is sealed with a bronze plate. The figure has an attractive dark brown patina with faint patches of verdigris. Very good casting with only a few minor nicks, and generally in very good condition.

Height: 6 ¾ in.; Width: 3 5/8 in.

This tripod censer is raised on three animal-masked feet that support its large, rounded body. The rim is decorated with a key fret design, and the body has ten lappets composed of stylized mask and key fret designs all in low relief. It retains its original brown patina overall with a deep greenish gray interior from use. Good condition.

Diameter: 12 in., Height: 8 ½ in.

This circular box with domed lid displays a well-painted scene of a lady standing in a rocky garden, holding a banana leaf and a sprig of flowers. The enamels are rendered in meticulous detail in a pallet of greens, aubergine, yellows, reds and shades of blue. On the sides of both the box and lid, there are three cartouches outlined in blue with a peony sprig in each. A speckled green ground with a four-petaled pink flower fills the remainder of the sides. The base is enameled white with a reddish-brown four-character Qianlong mark. The foot is exposed copper. The interior of both the lid and base is enameled white. There is a very small nick to the enamel on one side of the lid's interior. There is some overall soiling and evidence of age and use. The exposed copper edges on the top and bottom lips is oxidized brownish-gray. The overall condition is very good. Acquired from an estate in North Carolina.

Diameter: 2 ¼ in., Height: 1 1/8 in.

This metal box is fashioned as a model of a traditional stringed instrument having an overall punched floral design and a hinged lid. The base has an impressed seal. The surface has somewhat darkened with age. It is in overall good condition.

Length: 6 7/8 in., Width: 3 ¼ in., Height: 1 3/8 in.

This incense-burner has a flaring rim form raised on three ogee feet and has its original patina and considerable carbon incrustation from many years of use. Two lion's head handles embellish the body and the cast Da Ming Xuande mark is centered on the base. The interior is darkened from use and the exterior shows small areas of darkened bronze where not obscured by blackish patina. There is a slight dent to the rim. The condition overall is very good. Purchased at auction in North Carolina from the estate of a diplomat who acquired it in Japan in the 1950s.

Diameter: 4 7/8 in., Height: 2 7/8 in., Weight: 423 grams exactly, about 15 ounces.

The pendant is formed from sheet silver with a repousse design of a man riding a fu lion amid a floral background on one side and the other side with Chinese characters surrounded by flowers. The work is very well-executed in high relief and minute detail. The chain is fashioned from round soldered links suspended from which there are two bells on smaller chains. The bells are of spherical form and are covered with incising. On the side of the pendant, there is a small slot presumably for a key that is now missing. The pendant is not a functioning lock, however. The condition is very good overall, though there is oxidation clearly evident from being in its original, unpolished state.

Pendant width: 3 in.; Height: 2 ¼ in.; Thickness: ½ in.; Chain length: 14 ½ 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 oval repousse box with a well-executed peony design on a hinged lid opens to a beveled mirror and case with three separate compartments covered by a single silver lid with a floral-form knop. The sides are incised with a continuing floral design and the base is impressed in the center with a Chinese character hallmark. The repousse on the lid is very well-worked against a fine punched background. There is some wear and a few surface scratches and residue from an old label on the base. The overall condition, however, is very good. This is an unusual form for Chinese export silver and was perhaps intended for the Western market.

Height: 1 ¼ in.; Length: 5 ¼ in.; Width: 3 ¾ in.

Very heavy pear-form bronze vase stylized after ceramic vases of the same period, probably intended as a decoration in a scholar’s studio. Cast with a graceful qilong dragon wrapped around the body and neck with its bifurcated tail terminating on the upper neck of the vase and above the dragon’s head. The dragon’s features are well defined, including the single horn on top of its head, a hairy mane and goatee, and also a prominent backbone. The vase retains its original rich, deep brown patina from years of handling and use. Good condition, except for a small dent to the lower part as seen in one picture, and also small nicks due to its age.

Height: 6 5/8 in.

The stand and bowl of this vessel were cast separately and permanently joined at the time of production. The lid is topped with a lingzhi fungus. The entire piece is covered in an old brownish patina and small areas of verdigris. The lid fits very well into the grooved rim of the bowl. The lingzhi is cast as part of the lid, and has some areas of orange-ish patina. The interior of the stand is dark gray with some verdigris and the bowl interior is also a grayish tone. There are some nicks and a small dent on the lid rim that is not visible from the outside. No markings noted. Generally very good condition.

Height: 7 3/4 in., Diameter: 3 3/8 in., Weight: 900 grams exactly, about 2 pounds.

Having a single bail handle, the reticulated lid fits snugly and is very well cut with a design of geometric and floral patterns. The patina is of a warm, silvery tone showing the expected evidence of use and wear.

Diameter: 7 in., Height: 4 in.

These two vases were mostly part of an altar set that included an incense burner and circular box, all in cast bronze and having similar Koranic inscriptions. The vases are heavily cast as are most of these types of inscribed utensils. The calligraphy is raised from the background and is framed by a lobed cartouche surrounding a ring-punched background that helps to accentuate the inscription. The punched background was probably lacquered a dark brown or black originally and some traces appear to remain. The vases are well-cast and finely finished with concentric bands enhancing both the mouth rims and foot rims. A key-fret band is incised around the upper necks below the mouth rims. The exteriors exhibit a brownish, blackish patina and light patches of verdigris. Bronzes with Arabic inscriptions such as these vases were probably not made for export, but rather to serve the needs of the Muslim community in China. Both vases are in very good condition.

Height: 5 7/8 in.; Width: 3 3/8 in.

With an unusual European form, this oblong bowl with lid is decorated overall with a flower and butterfly design in shaded enamels on a white ground with an ultra marine blue secondary ground, as a banding around the lid and as a surround for the two flower cartouches on the bowl's exterior. A small turquoise band encircles the base of the bowl which rests on a flared foot. The interiors of both the lid and bowl are covered in a speckled, medium green enamel. The exposed metals rims are all gilded, though the exterior rims are somewhat rubbed and dulled. The interior metal retains its brilliant gold surface. The base is enameled white. Very good condition.

Length: 4 5/8 in., Height with lid: 2 7/8 in.

Each vase is decorated overall with various flowers on a medium-blue enamel ground within a continuous geometric fretwork pattern of gilt wires. Both the rim and base is gilded, now having some wear showing on each vase. The square area on the base is left from an old sticker removed in the past. Both vases have a melon form label body with a flaring mouth rim that is partially gilded inside. The interiors are not enameled and the old bronze has taken on a grayish patina. The condition of both is good, without dents or apparent damages. There is some of the expected pitting to the enamels and wear to the gilded cloison wires, mouths and bases.

Height: 10 in., Width: 6 ¾ in.

The color enhanced deep lavender jade is set in sterling silver mounts into which tiny faceted hematite stones have been inset. Each jade link has been joined by a silver Chinese character. The silver clasp likewise has a cut Chinese character and has two safety catches on each side as well.

Length: 8 in.

Cast with flowing robe and benevolent facial expression. Stands upon a base cast in the form of sea waves surrounded by low a fence raised upon a hexagonal plinth. Figure and base were cast separately with the figure being attached to the base with two bronze pins. The figure was originally lacquered overall then gilded. Remains of this gilt lacquer can be seen especially in the creases of the robe and the hair around the edges of the hood. The figure is well-modeled, having subtle curve to the body and a flowing robe as if being blown by the wind. The sculpture exhibits evidence of its 450+ years; there are areas of light encrustation and verdigris on the base. The lacquer gilding is largely worn off. One of the fencepost finials is missing. There are minor casting flaws: a small hole in the lower garment original to the casting and flawed casting or loss of the left foot. There is also a small hole on the left wrist. The figure is somewhat loosely attached to the base, but is not removable. These issues are fairly typical with bronzes of this age and overall this is a graceful figure retaining its original patina.

Height: 8 ¼ in.; Width: 4 ¼ in. at widest point of base