A superb late 19th century first standard (950/1000 pure) silver berry spoon with a shell-form gilt bowl. These spoons were originally intended for serving strawberries. The front of the handle is decorated with a twisting wreath of holly leaves and berries, and the back with a similar wreath of thistles. The bowl is beautifully worked in the shape of a scallop shell. Improvements in agriculture and railways made strawberries widely available to the wealthy classes in the 1870s...
What a great Chawan! Wan shaped tea bowl made of light, refined and soft Mino clay, which contains a little iron oxide. The fastly but expertly thrown body inside and outside, with the exception of the bottom (including the finely thrown foot ring) is covered with a transparent ash glaze, which turned to yellow due to the iron oxide in the clay.
In 5 areas of the tea bowl are highlights in green copper oxide in the tradition of the Mino Ki-Seto...
A Very Fine, Rare and Large Korean Sea-Dragon Painting-19th C.:
Korean, Joseon dynasty, 19th century, framed with plexi glass
This sea dragon is leaping out with a big water-waving in sea under thick clouds in sky
with lightening, exquisitely painted in ink and light color on paper,
It’s in very fine condition with small parts repairs...
This traditional summer weight Manchu style (side closing)vest is from late Qing Dynasty.
The lush deep blue silk fabric has a jacquard weave with an all over fret design.
The lining is of deep maroon silk..the vest is entirely hand sewn, and fits a small to medium size woman.
An antique Vietnamese jar with covered lid with blue under glaze. The lustrous ivory glaze covers the whimsical 3 blue floral images. The bowl's interior center has splotches of blue paint intermingled with a rust colored paint. The rim is unglazed, as is the small footing. Provenance: Prominant private collection from San Diego, CA
Date: Tran Dynasty (1225 - 1400)
Dimensions: 8" diameter X 7"high
Antique Japanese kuruma tansu (wheeled chest), made all solid quartered sawn keyaki (zelkova) hardwood with beautiful and dramatic natural grain. The upper and lower portions of the chest have open compartments which close with sliding panels. Each panel is reinforced with either vertical or horizontal wooden slats. A heavy hand forged iron plate sits in place along with hand forged iron locks and hardware with a key to keep the door panels from sliding...
This is a Nepalese illuminated manuscript, dating to circa the 18/19th century. Done in the customary "accordion" format, the book features a large multi-armed Goddess (probably Durga or Kali), with multiple attendant figures. The illuminated area measures 8-1/2" X 11-1/2" and occupies three panels of the manuscript. The reverse side consists of handwritten text (Devanagari? Sanskrit?), the whole on thickened yellow paper...
Very nice small Japanese bronze bowl with a slightly flared lip. May have been used on an alter for offerings or to burn incense. Beautiful warm patina with nice weight to it, this bowl measures 3" across the top by 1.25" high. Dates circa 1850.
This 19th Century traditional Han Chinese robe would have been used for winter wear. It uses dark black satin weave silk fabric, and has very wide cuffs with floral embroidery and the shape is trimmed out with a floral silk ribbon. The coat has its original buttons and fabric loop closures...and has original lining.
Excellent condition
A group of five illustrated manuscript leaves on thickened paper illustrating various "avatars" of Vishnu and other, related figures. Each leaf measures, approximately, 9" X 4". A bit rough around the edges, as shown in the photos. Still, a rare grouping.
This is a beautifully embroidered Chinese silk fan case, done almost entirely in the Peking knot technique, sometimes called "blind stitch." Both sides of the piece have been embroidered. Areas of the decoration have been skillfully raised to create a "3-D" effect. The embroidery is in exceptional, unfaded condition. Please note that one edge of the case is open, suggesting that the stitching has possibly come undone. Two rosy-pink glass beads are secured to the attached cord...
This well-cast bronze depicts the baby Krishna as "the butterball thief," referencing an episode from his childhood. The piece is solid-cast and measures some 3" in length and 3-1/2" in height. Well cast with excellent details, especially the face and jewelry. Please see the photos.
This sculpture includes an inscription on the reverse and is dated to "1427 Samvat," a date that places the sculpture in the 15th century. The piece has sustained a loss to the "edging" along the top (viewer's) right,as well as a loss adjacent to the "canopy," visible in the photograph. The casting quality is, in my opinion, outstanding,completely consistent with the early Jain classical style of sculpture. The piece has a beautiful, warm brown patina. It measures 6-1/4" in height.
Antique Japanese kannon biraki isho tansu (chest on chest for clothing with hinged doors). Made with kiri (paulownia) wood on the front with sugi (cryptomeria) wood on the sides, top and interior. The top section has two hinged doors which open to reveal two interior drawers. The bottom section has two large exterior drawers of different sizes. The lower right hand corner has a safe box with a hinged door and two small interior drawers...
Japanese Nabeshima ware porcelain dish decorated with a bird on a branch looking over a pond of omodaka (water plantian). The dish stands on a high, deeply recessed foot with outer "comb" cobalt blue design around its edges.
Dimensions: 8" diameter
Date: 19th Century
This classic Etruscan bronze is in excellent condition, measuring just over six inches in length. Each terminus (end) has the face of a bearded Satyr, with flaring, upturned ears. A rare and classic example, dating to circa the 5th-3rd century BC. Custom stand included. Excellent provenance, to be provided to the purchaser.
This is an 18th century, or early 19th century Balinese iron buckle, decorated with serpent motifs with gold inlay. There is some age-related rubbing with associated loss to the inlay, as would be expected. There is an inlaid calligraphic inscription to the back of the "fastener," which I have not had translated. The pieces measure, variously, 2-5/8" X 2-1/2" for the buckle, and 2-1/2" X 1-1/2" for the "fastener." The listing is for both pieces.
Chinese 18th Century bronze censer with Xuande mark. 13,5 cm mouth diameter. 18,5 cm wide from ear to ear. 8,3 cm high. Censer in good condition except mouth has smooth dent maybe. but maybe from original cast because no dent at the body.