A rare, large architectural Buddhist temple carving of a Dragon (Ryu), with reverse glass painted eye. The high relief carvings show the dragon's body coiled behind clouds of smoke and waves. Its serpentine body reveals his 3 appendages with classic three claw anatomy. The relief is solid keyaki "zelkova serrata" wood with the original red patina. The dragon which symbolizes the heavenly realm has control of rain, fire, and earth...

Dating to the early days of the 20th century, this brass spirit kettle was made by WMF of Germany, in the Jugendstil or Secessionist design. WMF stands for Wertembergische Metallwarefabrik, a German tableware company founded in 1853...

An Ai Kakiemon dish decorated with a repeating pattern of Hosoge, flowers of Precious appearance, which in this case would appear to be representations of auspicious Pomegranate fruits constructed from Ruyi, Acanthus style leaves and other disparate elements. The ring of Hosoge pierced by a circlet binding them together with a central motif of a gobenka...

Antique Vietnamese polychromed figure of a standing Buddha, with red, black, and gold gilt lacquer traces. He stands on a lotus pedestal atop a wood platform. With small losses consistent with age.

Circa 1900

Dimensions: 7 1/2" w x 6 3/4" d x 17 3/4" h

A finely potted Hirado dish featuring three figures wearing capes and carrying heavy packages upon their backs descending down a high mountain trail. Inferred by the small gnarled Pine trees on the wayside. Although no particular scene is identifiable the figures are in Hokusai “style”. The reverse is painted with a Karakusa arabesque and has a single spur mark within the base of the footring. The dish dates to the late Edo period and the middle of the 19th century...

A finely potted six sun sized dish decorated with a traveller clutching his hat and leaning into a cold wind before a snow covered Mount Fuji. The design would appear to be derived from a print of travellers in the Mishima pass, one of the 36 views of Mount Fuji. The reverse painted with a Karakusa arabesque with a single spur mark to the base. The dish dates to the late Edo period and the middle of the 19th century. The dish measures 18.2cm in diameter and stands 3.4cm high at the rim...

A well potted Hirado six-sun dish painted with a landscape with figures in the distance fording a river. This would appear to be a representation of the arduous crossing on the river Oi part of the Tokaido, probably derived from a topographical view, such as the Tokaide meisho ichiran, or similar. The reverse painted with a Karakusa arabesque with a single spur mark to the base. The dish dates to the late Edo period and the middle of the 19th century...

A finely potted six-sun dish painted with the subject of two fisherman in a boat in the style Of Hokusai. The design is probably derived from several sources, notably the prints “Fishing in Rough Water” at Takamizawa, one of the 100 views of Mount Fuji and “Long line Fishing” on the Miyato river. The reverse painted with a Karakusa arabesque with a single spur mark to the base. The dish dates to the late Edo period and the middle of the 19th century...

An Arita dish decorated entirely with a dense arabesque of trailing bush clover vine and leaf with flowers, lotuses. This design belongs to a class of designs called hosoge which ultimately derive from Chinese patterns of the Tang period. This particular form, popular from the seventeenth century, features Bush Clover, Hagi one of the auspicious akikusa-de, and is known as Hagi Karakusa, where karakusa means Chinese (literally Tang) grasses...

An Arita dish decorated entirely with a dense arabesque of trailing bush clover vine and leaf with flowers, lotuses These belong to a class of design called hosoge which ultimately derive from Chinese patterns of the Tang period. This particular form popular from the seventeenth century features Bush Clover, Hagi one of the auspicious akikusa-de, and is known as Hagi Karakusa, where karakusa means Chinese (literally Tang) grasses...

A nagazara of conventional rectangular form decorated somenishikide style, a combination of underglaze blue, sometsuke, and, nishikide, enamelled decoration. Nishiki literally means brocade. In this case a dense diaper pattern made up of repeating and contrasting cells of Karahana against an iron red ground and five petal flowers, presumably, ume hana, Plum flowers against a striated green ground, usually used to suggest pine needles...

A nagazara of conventional rectangular form decorated somenishikide style, a combination of underglaze blue, sometsuke, and, nishikide, enamelled decoration. Nishiki literally means brocade. In this case a dense diaper pattern made up of repeating and contrasting cells of Karahana against an iron red ground and five petal flowers, presumably, ume hana, Plum flowers against a striated green ground, usually used to suggest pine needles...

Antique Japanese large single section todana tansu. Made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood. This piece 4 horizontal rows with 4 drawers in each row for a total of 16 drawers. All of them are the same size. The hardware is made of iron and each drawer has a warabite shaped drawer pull.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 29" high x 65 1/2" wide x 17 1/8" deep.

A genuine original copper engraved plan of the Chinese city of Quinzay (Hangchow) based upon the account given by Marco Polo in the late 12 century. From Mathew Merian's 'Topographica' published in Frankfort in 1638. Hand coloured. Image size 18.1 x 25 cm. Two sheets joined as published, some browning on far left border.

A Japanese bronze ritual brazier from the Muromachi period. It has an even tonal verdigris patina throughout the object. The scalloped edge lip is decorated with alternating Ruyi cutouts and continuous curved lines.

The low brazier rests on 3 protruding rounded feet elevating it for the ideal purpose of burning scented woods or providing warmth...

Japanese women's small tansu with hardwood drawers, and charming burl front panels. The gilt copper hardware conveys floral motifs of Kiri leaves, flower petals, and fruit. The chest is configured with eight drawers of varied size and a pair of small sliding door panels opening to a roomy compartment. Each drawer has a plush black material lining.

Taisho Period - circa 1920's

Dimensions: 21 1/4" l x 11 3/4" d x 11 3/8" h

Japanese hand-forged iron jizai, used for suspending a tea kettle over a fire pit within the home. Made with a charming iron fish with incised details of scales, face, and separately attached fins.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 8" w x 48" - 53" long

A stunning Chinese porcelain Dayazhai-type jar grisaille painted with yellow ground. The monochromatic imagery of black and grey peonies against a yellow enamel ground scrolls around the body under a band of ruyi heads below a band of key-fret...

Antique Chinese vase with lid, made of green jadeite, with 8 faceted sides. Carved with scrolling floral motifs and filigree, with open carved filigree handles. The lid has a large finial over carved drapery. The base is carved with a lotus form over the tall, deeply recessed foot.

Dimensions: 4" w x 3 1/2" d x 11 3/4" h

Antique hand-woven bamboo basket, originating from the Jarai culture in Vietnam. Secured with wood frame, baskets of this kind were primarily used for collecting and storing rice. The lid is woven with a tall, wood finial with pierced hole for securing it down with ties. The sides of the basket are woven with alternating darker and lighter bamboo to create a pair of bands over a geometric diamond design, with remnants of red pigments.

Dimensions: 14 1/2" W x 34 1/2" H

Antique hand-woven basket, originating from the Jarai culture in Vietnam. Secured with wood frame, with rope shoulder strap for carrying. Baskets of this kind were primarily used for collecting and storing rice. The lid is woven with concentric circle design.

Dimensions: 13" W x 22 1/2" H

Sodenashi (vest) made of silk crepe fragments which are: katazome (stencil-resist-dye), stripes with yama-mayu (wild silk), itajime (clamp-board dye), plain etc. All vegetable dye such as indigo, benibana (safflower), shikon (root of purple grass). In excellent condition. The second half of the 19th century. 37cm x 57cm

Rare Tibetan hand-painted lacquer altar cabinet. Original finish with patina. The front three panels depict three faces. The left face has red skin and green hair with eyes opened wide. The middle face is upside down with eyes coming out of its skull, representing the kapala or skull cup used in sacred Tibetan Buddhist ceremonies. The face on the right is called citipati, representing both the eternal dance of death as well as perfect awareness. Two of the panels are hinged and open to the sp...

Chinese monochrome porcelain brush pot in a Turkish blue color underglaze, with reticulated carved scenes of cranes and pine branches against a ground of stylized lingzhi clouds and ocean waves. The base with six character Qianlong cartouche.

Republic Period

Dimensions: 7 1/2" w x 7 3/4" h

A terracotta figure of the Three Wise Monkeys - Mizaru who is covering his eyes, Kikazaru who is covering his ears and Iwazaru who is covering his mouth. All three embody the proverb "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". The figure is combed terracotta with blue, black and brown paint. The robes of the monkeys are painted with Japanese symbols on the back. Provenance: A Pvt. San Franciso Collection

Date: Meiji (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 8.5" X 5.5" X3.5"

Antique Sino-Tibetan cloisonne enamel bronze container in the form of a kapala or skull cup. The lid has a four prong vajra finial, and is decorated with intricate enamel design of floral scrolls, lotuses, waves, and four points around the vajra finial. The container's interior is done in red enamel, and the base is done in white enamel with a red cranial fissure line to emulate a skull. With carved wooden base.

19th Century

Provenance: From the Ashby Collection

Large flat figure wearing a skirt, a turban and appliques. Condition: damage to the appliques, left arm repaired. Provenance: Arte Primitivo, New York, September 2005. H. 19 cm.

Rare Japanese Yonazawa Keyaki (zelkova) burl front tansu with original golden honey lacquer finish. The round lock plates on each drawer feature the emblem of the Taira clan, whose mon is the swallowtail butterfly or ageha.

The Taira were one of the four important clans that dominated Japanese politics during the Heian period (794–1185) – the others were the Fujiwara clan, the Tachibana clan and the Minamoto clan.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: ...

A fine Kakiemion dish painted in sometsuke style with a Fuyo-de pattern with four landscape vignettes in European style adapted from a Delft original attributed to Fredrick van Frytom (see image no 6) which in turn provided elements of the so-called Deshima or Scheveningen with contrasting panels of stylised Peonies, Botan karakusa. A central motif of wreath form composed of Pomegranates. The reverse decorated with karakusa, trailing lotus vine, and a spiral fuku, good luck, mark within a double...

A nagazara or long dish of bean-pod form, a very unusual shape, decorated with auspicious un-ryu, dragons and clouds, in its central reserve, surrounded by Matsu-fuji, entwined Pine branches and Wisteria vine, a traditional Japanese motif associated with longevity. The reverse decorated with further auspicious Dragons and precious objects, cash and scrolls with flaming pearls. Within the footrim and to the base of the dish a four character fukichosun mark signifying a wish for a long and prosper...

A good Kakiemon long dish, nagazara, of a wide boat, sanpan, shaped form decorated with stylised lotus karakusa. The reverse decorated with Karakusa motifs and a Fuku in seal characters within a double square. An identical dish is illustrated in the Shibata Collection, see volume 5 no 154, there dated 1690-1710. The dish is in good condition no cracks, chips or restoration. It measures 20.8cm long and is 14cm wide, standing 3.8cm at the rim. It weighs 365 grams. Worldwide shipping included in t...

A rare Ancient Near East Bronze short sword or large dagger dating to 1st-2nd mill BC.

Commonly termed Luristani by dealers and collectors.

Fine style weapon with square shoulders and a flat central midrib. As a rare feature, on this short sword the lower part of the hilt is intact, which is seldom seen on this type of bronze age weapon.

Size is 42,7 cm - 16,8 inches.

Condition: A very nice ancient bronze. Blade with a slight bend and some roughness...

A wonderful boxed set of six 800 silver Jugendstil (“Art Nouveau”) demitasse or chocolate spoons, each featuring a scene from different Brothers Grimm fairy tales. The tales include “Bremen Town Musicians”, “The Frog Prince”, “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Hansel & Gretel”, “Sleeping Beauty”, and “Puss in Boots”. Bruckmann, one of the most important Imperial German silversmiths of the Jugendstil period, worked with many leading designers. In this case, the designer was...

Intricately carved mask for the Nuo esoteric theater, representing the legendary character of Bao Gong, or Judge Bao, wearing a formal hat, his face in relief with a fierce expression, with bulging eyes, open mouth revealing fangs, and a stylised beard. Wood, with traces of the original polychrome colouring. China, 18th century. Height: 29.6 cm. Very good condition despite signs of old insect infestation (no danger).

An Arita porcelain small bowl with barbed lotus style lobed rim, a namasu, typically used in Japanese cuisine to serve various pickles. Potted in mid 17C transitional Chinese style without a foot-rim as such, but an unglazed ring, kodai. The interior of the bowl painted in ko-sometsuke style. One half painted with Su Shi’s “First Ode to the Red Cliffe”, divided into twelve columns reading from right to left. The stanza is not complete with several columns of characters missing at the end ...

The small size of the figures (23-29 cm) makes this an interesting and rare group. The moulded figures still have much of their painting intact. The come in different sizes with different faces. Originally they carried wooden attributes or weapons. Condition: normal age wear, a few repairs (one arm and some toes, see pictures), overal in very good condition. Every figure comes with an acrylic stand H. . The group comes with a TL report from Kotalla which confirms the dating of these fig...