Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of Benkei as yamabushi (a wandering warrior priest) emerging out of a huge horagai (a war trumpet made out of a shell) and blowing into a smaller one, and holding a shakujo (Buddhist priest rattle) in his hand. The tokin (skull cap) on his head is the sign of the yamabushi, and horagai - (a trumpet shell - Charonia Tritonis) were often fitted with a mouthpiece on the thin end, and used as war trumpets...

19th century boxwood netsuke of a dog licking its puppy. Wonderfully captured mood of the scene, superb realistic carving, the breed looks like spaniel or Pekinese, extraordinary depiction of their fur and faces. Great netsuke. Length 1.7 inches.

19th century ebony netsuke of a crouching rat with its young climbing on mother’s back. Wonderfully captured interaction, superb detailed carving, very beautiful patina, in excellent condition. Length 2.51 inches.

19th century lacquered wood netsuke of a a grinning boy with a handled container, attributed to Sansho school. Great face, double inlaid eyes, expert lacquering, beautiful patina. Height 1.8 inches.

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of seated Thunder God Raiden, his drums that he uses to create thunder behind his back. Wonderful face with a touch of madness, excellent detailing, beautiful patina. There is an old restoration to a section of his scarf under the left arm - see left photo on Enlargement 5. Height 1.5 inches.

Interesting stamp seal of a very large size and depicting a horse, found place border area between Mesopotamia and Anatolia, Antiocheia, Uruk-Jemdet Nasr period, c. 4th.-3rd. mill. BC.

A rare sizeable depiction of a horse from this period.

Size: 35 mm. in diameter and 8 mm...

Interesting and massive stamp seal in fossilized shell or the like, and carved with a large capride with long horns on the base. Hemispheric shape and drill-carving of the later Uruk period, c. 3300-2800 BC.

Very attractive and impressive in the rough shell material, quite dense and heavy.

Size: 40 mm. in diameter and 17 mm...

Interesting seal that needs more research. Carved with a nice framed carving depicting a capride, horned animal eating a plant! Syro-Anatolian area of Western Mesopotamia. Found place given as Amúg Ebene near Antiocheia.

Size: 19 x 18 mm...

A very interesting and rare early amulet seal, carved with archaic patterns and drill tecnique of the 6th.-5th. millenium BC, Mesopotamia.

The amulet in dark green stone is very rare and shaped almost like an insict carved on each broadside with 6 globules within a gritpattern and a typical Halaf gritpattern on the small side. Loop probably lost to wear in antiquity so a new hole was made drilling one globule through.

Size: 24 mm. long and 12 mm...

A fine early stone seal type of the 6th. millenium BC Halaf period, a drop-shaped amuletic seal, Syro-Anatolian area, Northern Mesopotamia.

The fine amulet carved in a dark green stone with inclusions, finely polished with an extra loop due to wear and carved with a complete grit-pattern.

Size 28 mm. long and 13 mm. wide.

Reff. For the Halaf dating see for example Arpachiyah, A 1, steatite (from Mallo-wan, Rose 1935.93, Fig...

Sansui Landscape. Painted with ink on silk. Signed Tsunenobu and sealed. It is attributed to Kano Tsunenobu.

Kano Tsunenobu (1636-1713) was the eldest son of Kanō Naonobu (1607-50), younger brother of the renowned artist Kanō Tan'yū (1602-74). When his father died, Tsunenobu became a pupil of his uncle, and derived elements from the style of both men...

Three antique Timorese wooden statues commemorating a departed loved one. These were kept in the “attic” of a home and were not meant to be free standing. I bought this from an old Australian collection which was collected in the 1980s in West Timor, so these date circa 1950’s to 1960s. Carved from hard wood in good condition with minor checks in the wood, please examine enlargements for condition and scale.

A Gorgeous Genuine Hand Forged NORTHERN THAI SILVER CEREMONIAL OFFERING BOWL, 19th Century. Base engraved with octagon Star and stamped 31 baht weight. Size: height 13 cm x 23 cm diameter. Silver Weight 463 gr.

Good Ming Dynasty blue and white porcelain bowl with boatmen on a lake shore, clear drawing and consistent cobalt blue color. There are a couple of hairlines, noted in enlargements as well as frits caused by bubbles under the glaze on the rim. D: 13.6cm/5.3in and H: 5.2cm/2in.

Good Ming blue and white porcelain bowl with outer foliate and floral scrolling pattern. Some flea bites but no cracks or big chips. D: 13.6cm/5.1in and H: 5.9cm/2.2in.

The epitomy of wabi-sabi is on display with this Edo Period Ca.1860 wood Kannon Bodhisattva carved out of cypress. In its original box, the lovely patina and equanimous, buddhist compassionate expression is a treasure. 38cm tall x 13cm wide x 8cm deep. Ask for shipping quote. great condition.

A superb quality very large pottery figure of a male attendant or official, dating to the earlier Ming Dynasty, 1400-1500 AD.

The figure is placed on a high hexagonal plint and wears a fine two-colour robe in the green and yellow Sancai Colors. He wears a high, red hat. The unglazed areas have pigmented colors in red, black and white...

A superb quality very large pottery figure of a male attendant or official, dating to the earlier Ming Dynasty, 1400-1500 AD.

The figure is placed on a high hexagonal plint and wears a fine two-colour blue and turquoise glazed robe. The unglazed areas have pigmented colors in red, black and white...

This is a beautiful lapis lazuli scarab, 1/2" (13 mm) long. It is a particularly fine piece of lapis. It came from R. Box, a retired police inspector in Oxford, UK, in 1995.

A lovely ancient Egyptian Scarab, more than 2,300 years old, from the famous Mitry collection (see our Homepage). It is 1/2” long (13 mm) and made of steatite, an easy-to-carve stone that hardens when heated. Scarabs empowered life and resurrection and were often placed under mummy wrappings to protect the body and to help it resurrect. This Scarab comes in a jewelry display cup.

19th century tall netsuke carved as a dancing fox standing on its hind legs with its front paws raised to one side and its tail erect. This particular model seems to represent the Inari fox - the benevolent and well disposed creature, being the messenger of the God of rice and harvest, as opposed to the other foxes, which are generally believed to be evil creatures. Strong carving, very clever design, black ink highlights, great expression with a hint of a smile on its face, does not stand on it...

19th century netsuke of a head of a nio - (also called Kongōrikishi) - a wrathful and muscular guardians of the Buddha standing at the entrance of a Buddhist temple. Nio are dharmapala manifestations of the bodhisattva Vajrapani, the oldest and most powerful of the Mahayana Buddhist pantheon. This particular image represents Naraen Kongo, his mouth is closed representing the vocalization of the sound “N” - the last letter of the Sanskrit alphabet. Excellent carving of his ferocious face, be...

Meiji (1868-1912) Pair Japanese Makuzu Kozan Studio Vase Chrysanthemum & Flowers Bamboo Weaving Basket Marked

It is 12 inches (30.4 cm) tall by 10 inches (25.4 cm) wide.

One vase has repaired (glued back) at the foot. One vase has chips at the underside of the lip. One vase has yellowing at the vase's opening. They have black spots, firing cracks, and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

Our Guarantee: We stand behind all of the items that we sell...

19th century marine ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in ball shape carved in the round with Thunder God Raiden running through the clouds beating his drums, thus creating thunder. Beautifully carved, excellent patina, metal liner to the central hole. Diameter 0.61 inches.

19th century marine ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in ball shape carved in the round with shishi (Buddhist lion) frolicking among rocks and flowers. Beautifully carved, excellent patina, metal liner to the central hole. Diameter 0.68 inches.

Stylized ceramic elephant by Professor Max Laeuger with his stamped and incised hallmarks, depicting a charming elephant in white glaze with blue and green details over a crackle glaze, very much in the style of Jugendstil and Secessionist works of art. Measures 5 1/4" in width, 5" high, and 4" deep. German and Austrian ceramic artisans of the era were known for their sometimes simple, bright, and whimsical forms, in contrast to earlier design elements that were opulent and florid. Laeuer i...

Eight-sided, flared shaped lacquer kobako box, following the decoration on the lid depicting a basket of flowers, composed of peonies and chrysanthemums in gold takamaki-e and hiramaki-e lacquer on a nashi-ji background. The edge is decorated with cherry blossoms in gold and silver takamaki-e. Interior and base in nashi-ji.

Japan – Edo period, 18th century
Height: 1.9 in / 4.8 cm – width: 6.1 in / 15.5 cm – depth: 3.5 in / 9 cm

Interesting and rarely seen example of the Quatrefoil stone stamp seal group, Eastern Anatolia, Halaf period, c. 6th.-5th.- mill. BC.

An early but still quite elaborate small stamp seal, carved with a small cross inside the larger.

Size: 13 mm. x 13 mm., 6 mm. tall.

Condition: Nice VF, intact with patina.

Comes with imprint and original collection Id card.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and impo...

Seal seal carved like a fruit or a flower pot and on the base an engraved cross, loop at the top. carved in brownish stone, finely polished. Western Mesopotamia, probably 4th.-3rd. mill. BC

Size: 25 mm. X 18 mm.

Condition: Near Extremely Fine.

Comes with imprint and original collection Id card.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from ...

Very rare smaller stamp seal with the handle carved as a stylized animal head and the seal base into three round compartements, each containing an animal, Western Mesopotamia, c. 2nd. mill. BC.

Size: 15 mm. tall and 13 mm. wide.

Condition: Nice Very fine.

Comes with imprint and original collection Id card.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable deale...

Very interesting and quite scarce amulet of dark stone, carved in the axe form with a loop, Eastern Anatolia / Western Mesopotamia, Halaf c. 6th. mill. BC.

The amulet carved in serpentinite with a fine grit-pattern.

Reff. see a similar seal found in Domuz-tepe, dated 6th. milllenium BC - Dt 140, serpentinite (from Carter 2010.170,Fig. 5.33)

Size: 16 mm. X 16 mm.

Condition: Near Extremely Fine.

Comes with imprint and original collection Id...

A Fine Pair of Large Chinese Ming Dynasty Painted Pottery Tiles - Deer

This fine-quality pair of highly decorative pottery tiles was made during the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368 - 1644). They are made from a grey pottery and the decoration in relief features a pair of deer in a landscape. Note the detail to the deer, the carved and incised decoration as well as the impressed flower blossoms to the deers' bodies. The relief decoration has been cold-painted in various coloured pigments, good traces o...

Finely carved stamp seal with elaborate handle, Neo-Hittite states of the Levante, c. 1200-900 BC.

The seal depicts a horse moving right with another animal above. Scarce representation of a horse for Mesopotamia.

Size: 14 x 13 mm. and 11 mm. tall.

Condition: EF. Much redish deposits and will improve when cleaned.

Comes with imprint and ID-cards from below collection, made by the collector. Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aqu...

A scarce very early and substantial stamp seal from the Pre-/early Halaf period of Western Mesopotamia c. 6th. mill. BC.

Assymethrical design, finely carved in a black stone with a medium tall handle, and carved with an interesting web-pattern in the base.

Size: 28 mm x 25 mm. and 14 mm. tall.

Condition: Nice VF, some wear but overall nicely preserved, uncleaned deposits.

Comes with hard impression and original ID-card from the collection. It was aquir...

Biconical vase with tapered neck and flared mouth. The vertical ribbon handle attached to the pronounced shoulder. Standing on a flat base.
Decorated with a meander band that skirts the root of the handle. Above hanging triangles framed by incised parallel lines.
For a closely related example, cf. Beazley Archive vase no. 9014319.
Ceramic, Impasto Ware
Villanovan/Etruscan, 850-800 BC
H. 19.7 cm (7.8 in)
Reconstituted from fragments, pitted areas in place...

Rare Daunian vessel with short spout and vertical loop handles. The holes for the strainer pierced from inside the vessel.
The body decorated with bands and wreaths in applied black glaze. Palmettes next to the mouth and handles.
The vessel suffered a blow during the drying phase, which led to shrinkage cracks on the shoulder. The vase was nevertheless fired and remained reserved for cult purposes. Ceramic
Daunian, Subgeometric IIIB, 330-300 BC
H. to spout 15.5 cm (6...