Gorgeously hand carved out, this antique peking glass has a beautiful egg yolk colored background that is hand polished with deep aubergine, and delicate visible brush strokes, modeling the fine craftmanship. Washer is covered with two stylized bats, a good fortune Shaou design, and Chinese coin design wishing good wealth. Top banding has a ringed chinese key design in aubergine color and base banding shows a ring of lotus petal...

Antique Japanese chobako (small merchant's box) made with Sugi wood (cedar). Original condition. With squared iron handles on flared backplates. Two drawers are fitted with round iron locks.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 25" L x 15" D x 10.25" H

Japanese woodblock print by Yoshitoshi, from "36 Ghosts" series.

Tall circular woven bamboo yumi arrow case. The bamboo has a sooted chestnut patina. It is held together with a long silk tassel and attached to the circular fitted cover. The yumi is stenciled with the family crest of Chiba. Included are 4 arrows. Mounted for a custom fabricated Bronze museum stand.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 3.5" x 37" L (40" H on stand)

Rare antique Chinese court official's rank badge with an bird standing on a rock. The background is black silk and embroidered with very fine silver foil wrapped over silk threads that are tacked into position with gold silk thread, a technique known as couching. This is some of the finest most delicate couching I have seen. This color combination give the silver couching a slightly golden tint but with silver being dominant color. The bird is embroidered using satin stitch technique...

A fine cricket cage, composed of a body made from a gourd and a base, rim and lid made of ivory. The lid itself is nicely carved to represent a bird among flowers. China, 19th century. Length: 3 1/2" (9 cm). Very good condition.

DESCRIPTION: A fine and very sculptural Chinese Duan ink stone in the form of a bell with a deeply carved water well on one end, and a flaring flat surface on the other for mixing ink. The stone is raised on two elongated prong feet, between which is a five character inscription...

Antique Japanese yari saya, carved wooden cover for a yari spear. Favored by many samurai and ashigaru (foot soldiers) for the reached allowed by the long pole arm, the yari was a popular weapon for greater military use. At times of peace during the Edo Period, the yari also acted as a ceremonial weapon. The job of the yari saya was to protect the blade when not in use. Often the yari saya was decorated, in this case with inlaid shell...

19th Century, finely Hand-Carved Netsuke depicting a Large Shishi that is playfully pushing a ball with its left paw stands on a platform right next to a kneeling Karako that appears to be offering a treat to the Lion Dog. Action Figure with powerful form and expression. Stained for effect. The platform is decorated with peonies...

19th Century Chinese High Relief Carved Agate Snuff Bottle This is a very fine, 19th century, Flattened , Rectangular form with concaved foot and straight neck, well hollowed Agate snuff bottle. It has carved, in high relief, the image of Shoulao under a Peach Tree with a deer on one side, and a chrysanthemum plant on the reverse. It comes with a green jadeite stopper...

An antique Japanese Choba (merchant) Tansu, constructed of hinoki (cypress) natural finish wood. With hand-forged iron hardware and plates. The Choba has iron handles, lock plates, a pair of sliding doors and three drawers in the middle, a pair of sliding doors with slats at the bottom, and a corner bottom safe box with three drawers inside and a small secret drawer.

Date: Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 35" high x 15" deep x 33.5" wide

An antique Japanese 3 section Isho Biraki Tansu made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original bronze hardware. Upper section features a pair of sliding doors behind which lies a spacious storage area with a split level shelf with three side by side drawers below. The center section has two hinged doors that hide three removable Kimono trays while the bottom section has two drawers for added storage. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails...

An antique Japanese Todana Tansu (book storage chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria). All original bronze and hand forged Iron hardware including the stylized Mokko handles. Two sets of sliding doors behind which spacious storage was used to keep books. Two side by side drawers at the bottom for additional storage...

An antique Japanese Yosegi Kobako (marquetry personal drawer box) from the Hakone region made of various natural colored woods with a Kusunoki (Camphor) wood structure and drawer backs. The expert craftsmanship is quite evident by how the front marquetry design flows seamlessly across all of the drawers, the sides, the top and the back of the piece...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Tochinoki (Horse Chestnut) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original lhand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles. Six drawers of varying sizes with 2 sets of sliding doors. Merchant records and books were stored behind the upper doors. The lower doors hide three small drawers, a storage area for more records and a secret hiding drawer where valuables were kept hidden from possible thieves...

This is a 19th century, excellently hand-carved Netsuke depicting a very surprised Rat Catcher, who is standing on one foot, while holding the tale of a rat that is crawling on his back. Another rat is crawling on the floor , near his foot. Outstanding detail and expression, as well as a two-tone patina. Unsigned. Netsuke measures 1.10 inches (2.8cm) wide, and 2.78 inches (7.1cm) tall.

Antique Japanese single section Kiri (paulownia) wood tansu, all natural original finish. Very simplistic and functional design. All drawers have iron locks and Hirute style iron handles. Two small drawers in the bottom corner are perfect for storing small valuables.

Size: 32" L x 17" W x 32" H

Very charming Chinese birdcage, styled after a temple, with two small fu dogs guarding the front entrance, dragons on the roof, bells hanging off of the edges, hook on top to be hung from the ceiling. Made from bronze metal and dates from the early 20th century

Size: 9.5" L x 9.5" W x 15.5" H

A rare solid gold ring with a beautiful natural stone that under the light has almost a cat eye feel. Doesn't show up on the photos.

Antique Japanese bronze bowl in the form of a large, round lotus leaf. The bowl is raised on it's coiling lotus stem and another unfurled leaf. A tiny frog perches on the edge of the bowl.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 4 1/2" high x 8" wide

A Korean hardwood bedside chest made with elm hardwood front doors, decorated by brass plate hinges, a central flower blossom medallion, and brass bat shaped handles. The interior of the chest holds six drawers with brass pulls and dramatic elm wood front panels.

Dates from 1950. Dimensions: 25 1/2" x 15 1/2" x 26" H

A medium sized ido-gata (well shaped) tea bowl with exceptionally fine and beautifully crafted kintsugi gold repairs. One side of the bowl features a thickly applied ferrous glaze that pools generously near the base, while the pale green ashen glaze on the outside is decorated with impressed textured patterns. Very firmly grounded, the kodai (foot) shows the reddish clay that the piece is fashioned from and the potters seals on the base appear to read “sho” (star) “zen” (having the natur...

A parcel-gilt silver cricket box and its cover. The body of the box is decorated with embossed flowers in cartouches, and its base is pierced with an intricate lattice design. The lid is also decorated with embossed concentric decorations, at the center with flowers in an octogonal frame, and around the rim with large fowers of various forms. China, early 19th cetury, maybe earlier. Diameter: 7.7 cm. Height: 4.4 cm. Very good condition. NOTE: similar boxes were sold at auction at Christie's in ...

This is an Early 19th Century, beautifully carved Group of Gourds. Outstanding form, polish and patina. Silk-smooth tactile qualities. Natural himotoshi. Unsigned. Netsuke measures 1.40 inches ((3.6cm) in diameter.

Japanese Taisho Period ikebana basket (for flower arranging). Made all of lovely split bamboo with a semi open weave. The handle is made of three pieces of bamboo and knotted together. Wrapped detailed where the handle meets the body of the basket. Signed Kokosai. Size: 19" high x 9" wide.

Beautiful Korean screen with six rice paper panels depicting people amidst gorgeous scenes of nature. Each panel is mostly monochromatic with conservative usage of color in muted shades of yellow, pink, blue, and purple. There are large blooming flowers with a sparrow flying overheard in every panel. Size: (entire screen) 61" height, 106" width, (artwork only) 27.75" height, 12" length

A Ko-Seto-yu Chaire Tea Container by Teishitsu Gigei-in Suwa Sozan I wrapped in a chord bound silk pouch enclosed in the original signed wooden box tied with deer leather, the box bearing the seal of the Imperial Art Academy. It is 5 cm (2 inches) tall and is in perfect condition.
Sozan I (1852-1922) was born in Kutani country, present day Ishikawa prefecture, where he initially studied before moving to Tokyo in 1875. Over the next 25 years he would gravitate between Tokyo and Kanazawa, ...

An unsually large stone cylinder seal, carved in a glossy black green stone, Middle Assyrian period, c. 14th.-11th. cent. BC.

This cylinder is seal 48 mm. tall and c. 15 mm. thick - a seal that gives a huge imprint when rolled on clay. The seal showing an archer fighting a winged griffin. The archer is probably the Great King and he is kneeling shooting his bow into the face of the Griffin, which is lifting it's left paw. He has a quiver full of arrows on his back, and symbols of the ...

A larger black serpentine cylinder seal, showing a the Great King battling a winged griffin with bird-like features, star and other symbols in the fields. Achaemenid, c. 550-332 BC.

Nice core Persian style for the medium.

Height: 34-35 mm and with a diameter of 12 mm.

Condition: Very fine for the type and basically intact with minor chips and smooth wear.

Provenance: The Karl Müller collection, Germany 1950-1977. Comes with COA and his hard imprint (...

Antique Korean single section cabinet made with elm wood and hardwood burl panels. Hardware is made of brass. Beautiful rich patina. The upper portion has four small drawers in a horizontal row along the very top. The body of the chest is mostly made up of two large compartments opened by hinged doors.

19th century

Dimensions: 46 3/4" high x 43" widest (40 3/4" wide in middle) x 21" deepest (20" deep in middle)

A high quality and massive Mesopotamian cylinder seal carved in dark serpentine stone, North-West Mesopotamia, c. 18th.-16th. century BC.

The seal is profusely engraved with a complex depiction of deities and animals. A central godess is sort of flying with her hands touching two creatures above. A worshipper in front with hands raised. Aray of animals and smaller figures including a Centaur below.

Size: 44-45 mm. tall. and 15 mm. wide.

Condition: Near Extremely...

A very finely carved late- to Neo-Assyrian red stone cylinder seal, depicting a human headed, winged demon with Scorpios tail and a large Bull. In between them a tree and above star and crescent.

Interesting and beautiful composition, probably depicting Pazuzu. Beautiful jasper -like stone, quite hard.

Size: 25 mm. tall and 12 mm. wide.

Condition: Good Very fine, intact and sharp with minimal chip to the very rim, not affecting the depiction.

Provena...

H. 14,5 cm. One side decorated with a landscape with figures, the other side with flowers. Condition: firing crack in the neck, age cracks in the glaze. Comes with the original Christie's sticker, the original certificate and the invoice from 1992. The Vung Tau sank in 1690 on its way from China to Batavia, Indonesia. The cargo was meant for Amsterdam. The wreck was found in the early 90's and it's content was auctioned at Christie's Amsterdam in 1992. The auction became a craze and the po...

Antique Chinese porcelain serving vessel with green and blue enamel dragons accented by gold and red fireballs and floral motifs on the outer and inner rim. The handle has a braided form with gold enamel design. The foot is slightly recessed and outlined in green enamel.

Dimensions: 7 1/4" x 4" x 3"

Chinese wood carving of Quan Yin, the compassionate female bodhisattva. With pigments of red, black, and gilt lacquer. She stands posed with her arms crossed, holding a scroll close to her chest.

Republic period circa 1920

Size: 9" x 7" x 26" H

Chinese rectangular ink box made of white brass and copper. The lid is decorated with calligraphy inscription and chop. The interior of the box with dark patina and ink stone. The copper based is signed with maker's mark.

Dimensions: 3 3/4" x 2 1/2" x 1"

From our Japanese Collection, a large and attractive pair of bamboo carvings, late Meiji - Taisho Period, depicting a continuous battle scene of fighting samurai, with some on horseback and some on foot, all well-carved and with a good patina. This pair makes a strong decorative statement. There are several age splits to the base of each piece, ranging from a half inch to an inch long, but none threaten the structural integrity. There is one larger split, however, to the top of one piece about 2...

Relics of the Nile is pleased to offer this brown flint curved blade knife with chipped tail style handle. This knife was created from one large piece of flint; using localized pressure (as opposed to striking the blade with a hammerstone), a craftsman precisely removed small flakes of flint to produce the ripple-flake on both sides and serrated cutting edge. This bade is typical of the Naqada II to 2nd Dynasty style, ca. 3,500 - 2,686 B.C.. Among the many uses was as a weapon for butchering li...

Up for sale is one out of the 4 silk panels, #1, an antique Chinese Qing Dynasty Cantonese embroidery, dated to the reign of emperor GuangXu. Panel is embroidered with birds and flowers, all in a beige color silk satin ground. Executed in various embroidery techniques. Intricate work ! Overall in very good condition. A few small holes in the beige silk ground Measurements - Approx. 36.5" x 10.5" Overall

This piece features a warm golden crackled glaze with several patches of lighter pigmentation and a number of gold and silver repairs. The inside of the bowl is especially inviting, showing a magnificent patina developed over many decades of use. The outside of the bowl displays Chrysanthemums (Kiku)—long considered an auspicious symbol of longevity and rejuvenation in Japan and used as a family crest for the royal family—and what appear to be Wild Ginger (Aoi hana)—symbolizing protection ...

Finely carved mask, with strong features and delicate painting meant to enhance the strength of the character it represents. The character depicted here is of Hashihime. The mask is made of wood, its eyes are made of metal. The mask is signed. Japan,Taisho and Early Showa Period (1912-1945). Height: 20.8 cm. Very good condition. NOTE 1: The most famous hashihime story comes from Tsurugi no Maki, in The Tale of the Heike, and is retold in the noh play Kanawa. NOTE 2:Here is the legend of Hashi...

Unusual Japanese Kiri (paulownia) tansu with 8 drawers and a lift away panel opening to a shelved interior with spacious room. The 8 front drawers feature small round locks and warabite pulls. Original finish and condition.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 25" L x 12 1/2" D x 19 1/2" H

Antique Chinese hardwood ruyi scepter, naturalistically carved in the gnarled form of a lingzhi mushroom. A ruyi (meaning "as desired" or "as you wish" in Chinese) is a symbol of power and good fortune. Larger ruyi were held by nobility as scepters, smaller ruyi acted as a talisman. Because of it's many medicinal uses and it's power to balance one's qi (life force), lingzhi fungus is often seen in Chinese art as a symbol of health and longevity.

Republic Period (1912-1949)

Antique Chinese large painting of the bodhisattva Quan Yin holding a willow branch, in long, flowing robes with cascading jewels, standing over lotuses. Red cartouche in bottom righthand corner. 18th/19th century . Size: 64" H x 27" W

Outstanding Ohi Chawan from the early stage of the Meiji Era (1868-1912) with a rarely seen octopus and coral sculpture on it. The outer earthy amber glaze harmonises wonderfully with the colourful interior landscape of the bowl. A firework of colours running into each other. What an impressive demonstration of the artistry of this 19th century artist. His seal is printed on the unglazed foot ring.

The mesmerizing play of tones of this particular vessel is yet another fine example o...

Surely an extraordinary confluence of circumstances must have come into alignment in order to bring this remarkable composition into existence. Done in the Korai style—referring to the heavy influence from Korean forms and glazing—this exquisite Edo period Karatsu-ware tea bowl features a white stripe running horizontally along the outer surface of the bowl known as Hakeme. This type of white slip brushing serves as a high-contrast background for the iron spotting and pigmentation brought ou...

A Korean Very Fine Highly Transparent Inlaid Celadon Shallow Dish-13th C. Korea, Koryo dynasty, 13th century The shallow formed dishe set on low ring foot decorated with floral head and ruyi patterns in white slip inlat in interior and 5 black and white slip inlaid floral head decoration in exterior, with 3 spur marks on base, applied over all with glossy grey sea-green celadon glaze. They are in very fine condition without any chips or repairs. It measures approximately 13cm d. x 3.7cm ...

Antique pair of Japanese shokudai (candle stands), made of bronze. Beautiful simple design with faceted stem and small chrysanthemum shaped detail where stick meets base. Each stand has a little hook and circular candle guard.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 17 1/4" high x 8" wide

An antique Japanese Kururi Tansu (apothecary chest for herbs and medicine) made of Sugi (Cryptomeria) wood and finished in a Negoro lacquer. 30 drawers each with an iron ring pull. It features two side carrying handles and a custom-made raised stand.

Age: Meiji Era (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 24 3/4" Wide by 17 1/4" High by 9 7.8" Deep

A very fine beaded dance panel from the first quarter of the 20th century. Dimensions: 29 x 29,5 cm. Good condition. Provenance: private collection Lanaken, Belgium.

Antique Chinese ceramic circular box with an incised six petal flower on the lid. It is glazed in white, save for the base and the interior rim as well as the underside of the lid. Dates from the Song Period Size: 2" height, 3" diameter

Chinese Ming dynasty blue and white small jar square shape. 8 cm high. 5 cm wide. Good conditions.

Antique Japanese small merchant's box. Although this tansu has the appearance of a gyosho bako (peddler's box), it does not have loops for carrying straps. It was probably custom made for a merchant's raised platform area. All of the drawers feature hand forged iron lock plates and mounts. One of the smaller drawers is stained with ink meaning it would have stored an ink pen for receipts and accounting. Made with all Kiri (paulownia) wood.

Meiji Period (1868-1912) Dimensions:...

An unusual Japanese ikebana (flower arrangement) basket. Hand-woven with sections of bamboo, and interesting wisteria branch accents on the front and backside. The sides are woven with "Gypsy ear" ring handles. The basket is formed with a large, rounded body, a short foot, and a wide open mouth. Full of character and charm.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 12" x 10" H

Japanese antique 2-section cha tansu (tea chest). The frame of this chest is made of solid keyaki (elm) wood and the front has persimmon wood veneer with dramatic grain. The top section has a compartment covered with four small sliding panels and a large compartment with glass sliders for display. Inside the glass display area are stepped shelves, a smaller square glass door compartment, another compartment with batik covered sliding panels depicting Mt. Fuji. There is a small drawer in th...

Antique Japanese keyaki (elm) wood single section isho tansu (clothing chest). Made with keyaki wood burl on the front. Two large exterior drawers and a safe box in the lower right hand side with 2 small interior drawers. Iron hardware with warabite shaped drawer pulls and round foliate lock plates.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 24" high (including stand) x 34 1/2" wide x 15 1/2" deep.

From our Japanese Collection, a good Fuyode Ko-Imari Arita blue and white porcelain dish, the term "Fuyode" referring to late 17th century Japanese porcelain painted in the style of Chinese Ming Dynasty porcelain. This is one of the earliest examples of Japanese Arita ware. This dish is painted in underglaze blue with a central panel of flowering peony, and with panels of the “Three Friends of Winter" design (pine, bamboo, and prunus) in the border. The reverse is sparsely painted with karaku...

Antique Japanese Chobako (merchant's box) with five drawers; two small drawers side by side on the top over three drawers in a vertical row. This box is made all of Hinoki (Japanese Cypress) wood with the exception of the drawer interiors which are made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood.

The drawers graduate in size with the smallest on the upper portion of the box and the largest on the bottom. An interesting and unique feature Is how the round iron lock plates mimic this graduation of size ...

A beautiful Annan tea bowl with silver repair (gintsugi) and fine sense of "aji" bestowed by age. Ornately decorated with flowering chrysanthemum, the skillfully applied silver repair to the bowl implies that it was treasured by its previous owner.

Annan-Yaki, is a tradition of pottery brought to Japan from the Annan province of ancient Imperial China (now part of Vietnam) from the late Muromachi period (1392 - 1573). At the time this type of pottery was hugely popular among tea dev...

This is a beautiful Japanese Imari bowl. It is not only rare to see a bowl of this size but the enameled crane design is also rare. Overall the bowl is in outstanding condition. It measures 12 1/4 across and 4 3/4 tall.