Antique Chinese hardwood bitong (brush pot) container for holding the brushes used by scribes for Chinese calligraphy. Made of dense and dark hardwood. Simple form with thick walls that taper inward slightly in the center. Soft to the touch with original buttery like finish.

Age: early 20th Century

Dimensions: 8 1/4" high x 8 1/8" wide

Cast bronze incense burner. Simple, tripod shape, with cut-out rather than welded handles. Despite its simplicity, this censer is of a good quality finish, in fact you can see on some photos the traces of the passage of the scraper tool which makes a perfectly smooth surface. Below cast in the mass the mark of Xuande. Although bearing this mark of the 15th century, this type of bronze is from the Qing period...

Small tripod miniature incense burner of simple form in cast bronze. The two handles are unusually very thin. Below we can see the 6 characters of the reign of Xuande of the Ming Dynasty. The bronze is old, the beautiful patina attests to it. However, it is difficult to date it exactly. Usually the bronzes bearing the mark of Xuande are from the 17th century. A wooden base and lid were added later, probably in the 19th century...

Small deer in cast bronze. The animal is shown lying down. It's a roe,stag or maybe a deer. Very good quality of sculpture. The perfection of the volumes, the search for detail and the neat finish are similar to those that we admire on the Netsuké. This little deer must be a Japanese work rather than a Chinese one, it is impossible to date it with exactness. Probably Edo or earlier. The deer was the protector of Buddhism. 85mm x 54mm The base pierced with a square hole...

Small cast bronze incense burner in the shape of a duck. The bird is lying on its folded legs and gracefully twists its neck to groom its plumage. There has never been a lid because the opening on its back is clean without grooves and without any trace of friction or wear. The carving is of good quality, the eyes and nostrils are particularly well executed. Chinese work from the 18th century or much earlier. Below, between the legs, the bronze cracked and was repaired with tin solder...

Pair of Tiele (Chinese Ironwood) Weiqi boxes, carved from solid wood. Weiqi was the forerunner of the Japanese board game of Go, and one of the Four Arts, that someone from the "gentleman class" were supposed to know. These boxes are used to put the stone pieces in. There is cyclical date which probably doesn’t go further back than 1972 therefore they could be 1984, 1996, 2008, 2000, 2012...

Early 19c Chinese scholar’s carved rosewood double dragon brush rest. The dragons have wonderful facial features with turned up snouts. There is a round knob on the top between the two facing dragons to turn it easily. The bodies, feet and curling tails are wonderful. Workmanship and quality is superb, showing early original patina to the surfaces. The color is a rich reddish brown with all the shiny areas right where they should be from handling...

Two boxes with 18 black and gold decorated moulded ink sticks showing the 18 Lohans. Boxes 29x20 cm. All sticks in excellent condition, no cracks or chips. Undated, estimated to be early 20th century. Can be seen in central London and shipped worldwide.

The sword is inscribed with flower and bird. It is signed on the case and the sword itself.

Deeply carved Cantonese style hardwood calligraphy brush depicting figures, foliage, and other designs with a pin pierced background. Ferrule and end cap is one piece and brush is natural animal hair. Circa 1900. Excellent condition. Total length is 13 inches long, wood handle 9".

Simple Han inkstone, polished smooth one side and rough underneath. Signs of exavation and typical distinct petrichor smell. L: 20cm/7.9in x 6.3cm/2.5in. Note last image is from Chinese Inkstones- Simon Kwan, for reference.