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.

The exterior of each bowl is decorated with nine butterflies in flight in brilliant funcai enamels. The lower portion of the bowls just above the footring is encircled by a band of lappet panels, and below the rim of each is a Greek key band all in the same enamel palette. The interiors are undecorated, and glazed with the same even, white glaze as the exteriors. The bowls rest on a raised footring. The bases are glazed and marked in overglaze iron-red enamel with six-character Guangxu marks. Both bowls are in excellent condition.

Diameter: 4 7/8 in., Height: 2 ¼ in.

These earrings consist of cabochons and beveled-edge pendants of bright, mottled apple-green and white jadeite, highly polished with good translucency. The mounts and posts are 14 karat gold. The pendant is 1.5 inches long and the cabochon is 0.25 inches.

Total length of each earring: 2 in., Thickness: 1/10 in.

These tall, slender offering jars with lids are well-potted and molded with dignitaries, dragons and horses, and covered with a thin bluish-toned clear glaze. The bluish areas are apparent where the glaze has pooled around the molded figures. The lids are likewise glazed and finished with a simple stylized swirl of clay. The clay body is white and a bit sugary in texture. There are orange areas of staining from burial. Jars such as these were used as grain offering containers and were interred with the deceased for use in the afterlife. The mouthrim, the foot, and the base are unglazed. The jars are a matched pair and are in generally good condition. There is a small chip to the piecrust shaped decoration below the mouthrim of one jar. There is very minor chipping to the edge of the feet. There is a small piece on the edge of one lid that was broken and restuck.

Heights with lids: 17 ¾ in., 18 in.

Glazed with a clear glaze of slight greenish tone over a buff porcelanous stoneware body. It rests on a medium-tall footring with a base that is carved in the Song manner to a subtle point at its center. The interior has a carved rib design that is partially obscured by the glaze. An unglazed ring, exposing the greyish buff paste encircles the interior of the base. The bowl is in very good condition with no restorations, chips or cracks. Purchased in Japan in the 1970s where it was used as a teabowl.

Diameter: 6 ½ in., Height: 2 ¼ in.

The mouth rim of this apple-shaped soft paste porcelain jar is encircled by fifteen uniformly pierced holes. The green souffle glaze covers the exterior and continues over the mouth ring. The interior is fully glazed with a dark green souffle type glaze. The glaze has an overall lightly mottled effect from having been applied by blowing it onto the body through a tube. The base in unglazed and slightly soiled from use and age. There are two dark old tape stains visible. Overall, the condition is very good; it is rather stoutly potted so as not to tip easily and may have been intended for use as a vessel for flower arrangements.

Height: 4 in., Diameter: 6 1/8 in.

This horse is carved in a very energetic pose with open mouth and neck twisted back over the left shoulder. The stone is a golden-brown tiger eye displaying the characteristic chatoyancy and having a few small whitish opal-like areas. The piece is well-carved overall with clear facial features and a very active pose with a high and even polish overall. The fitted stand is carved from jichimu (chicken wing wood) and was painted or lacquered black originally- with much of the pigment remaining. Both horse and stand are in very good condition.

Height: 2 7/8 in., Length: 4 ¼ in. Horse on stand: 4 1/8 in., 5 in.

Decorated with a scene of birds and trees in the Kakiemon palette and style in overglaze enamels on a clear glazed white porcelain background. The base is slightly recessed and the footring is unglazed, exposing the hard, white porcelain paste. The shoulder is carved with a groove design that radiates from the base of the neck and is decorated with a scattered flower design in overglaze red enamel. The base is painted with an underglaze blue fuku mark in cursive script. It was intended for use as a sake bottle. It is in good condition with no chips, cracks or restorations. There are a few scattered iron specks in the white porcelain.

Height: 7 ¾ in., Diameter: 4 in.

This small mountain peak-form scholar's brush rest is molded with a wave design of scrolls, flowers and ribbons on the concave side. This side is also splashed randomly with underglaze cobalt blue. The base is flat and underglazed, now with dark soiling. The entirety is hollow and a small hole is visible to allow for air escape during the firing. It shows minor wear from use and is in overall very good condition, with no cracks, chips or repairs.

Height: 2 1/8 in., Length: 3 ¼ in.

Carved on one side is an old gnarled pine tree growing out of a rocky outcrop. The vase is of a flattened ovoid shape with a rectangular foot that is hollowed to the base. The stone has a white jade-like quality, but is probably a type of serpentine. The tree is carved in high relief with some under-carving, giving it a feeling of being carved almost in the round. The stone is flecked with silvery inclusions and very light brownish veining in a few places. It retains its soft, even polish. There are a couple of very tiny, thought not very noticeable chips and wear to the mouth rim from use and age. Otherwise, it is in very good condition.

Height: 4 ¾ in., Width: 3 ½ in., Thickness: 1 ½ in.

This tall, slender figure is carved from cedar in Enku's so-called hatchet style. Enku was a yamabashi, or traveling priest, whose mission was to serve the remote villages of rural Japan-- particularly those in the more northern parts. As acts of devotion, he produced thousands of Buddhist carvings over the course of his life-- many of which were given by him to the temples he served as well as the parishioners.

This figure is probably an image of the Buddhist rain and dragon deity, Zennyo Ryuo, standing upon a rock, holding a tablet against his chest with a dragon mask surmounting his head. It appears this carving was covered in a thin, dark lacquer, much of which is now worn away. Overall, the condition is good. Purchased in Kyoto in 1973, and sold as a 19th Century “Mingei” Buddha.

Height: 18 ½ in., Width: 3 in.

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.