Occasionally while browsing through the temple markets of Kyoto or perusing backstreets tea-ware shops, an attractive piece will catch my eye for no particular reason. When this happens, I typically buy it immediately without hesitation, trusting that I will be able to place it to a specific period or kiln given enough time and research...

Japanese two section mizuya (kitchen tansu for storage). Constructed of Hinoki (cypress) wood frame with Sugi (cedar) wood, original dark finish. The top section holds a compartment behind pair of sliding panels with Keyaki (zelkova) wood details, open work carving and wire for ventilation. Next to this is a larger compartment with sliding panels with vertical iron studded slats and Keyaki hardwood insert...

An oak leaf shaped moulded dish of six-sun size in “Ko Sometsuke” style decorated in underglaze blue with three seated figures sitting around a low table with a typical Chinese style landscape of mountainous islets in a costal setting with a Ting, small pavilion in the foreground. The reverse decorated with prunus blossom sprigs and a seal for the Kameyama kiln in the centre of the foot-ring. Dating late Edo, Tenpo era...

Unusual Japanese single section isho tansu from the Sendai region, made of solid Keyaki (zelkova) hardwood with burl front panels. The iron hardware and mounts have floral motifs throughout. The corner plates have scalloped edges, the drawer pulls are mokko (melon) shaped with chrysanthemums mounts, the round lock plates are incised with Kiri leaf mon and two are outlined with scrolling vine motifs. The safe door opens to reveal three inner drawers for small valuables...

Antique Korean low table, of a rounded form with raised, scalloped flower petal edges. The apron below is openwork carved with scrolling vine motifs and double happiness symbols. The table's top is highly decorative with fine inlay work of brass, shell, and shagreen, creating a depiction of a phoenix and a serpentine dragon. The edges of the table top are decorated with various scholar's objects, such as a gourd bottle, an endless knot, and a gunbai fan...

Antique Japanese 2-section isho tansu (chest on chest for clothing) from Yonezawa Area. Drawer fronts are made of kiri (paulownia) wood, frame is made of sugi (cryptomeria) wood. 4 large drawers and 2 small drawers. Iron hardware includes round lockplates with butterfly mon (family crests) of the Taira Clan.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 41 1/2" high x 35 1/2" wide x 15 3/4" deep.

A Japanese copper writing box used for paper and writing supplies. The lid is engraved with grape leaves and grape clusters. The border is nail studded. The interior is beige velvet.

Date: Taisho c1920

Dimensions: 11" X 9.25" X 2.75"

A Nihon Matsu tansu with hinoki (cypress) wood drawers. The round lock plates on each drawer feature a bird and bamboo leaf motif. There are 4 large drawers with spacious interiors and on the right lower side is a safe box door with key with two interior drawers.

Date: Meiji c1900

Dimensions: 51" X 45" X 17.5"

A large round Ottoman Empire hammered copper tray with verdigris patina throughout. The Qajar-themed artwork depicts various men, women, and animals. Figures are shown playing music, some on horseback in battle skirmishes or hunting with their swords, bows and arrows, and spears. The figures are shown in a repeating pattern against a floral scroll ground...

Chinese blue and white porcelain planter, decorated with cobalt blue underglaze designs of scrolling vines and flowers and three round medallions depicting waterside scenes, rock formations in the background and fishermen, huts, and pine trees in the foreground. The inner and outer rim are decorated with a band of floral scrolls and flowers...

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...

A rare example of large bowl for research and study, decorated outside with incised of fruits pattern in turquoise glaze, inside with sacrificial red ground incised to the centre with charming peach pattern. Da Ming Xuan De Nien Zhe within double circle and of the period. Condition broken into 9 pieces then re-glued without no any missing. Diameter: 31 cm and Height: 12 cm.

A Swatow type blue and white exported ware to South East Asian region. Late Ming dynasty 17th century Zhangzhou ware. Condition is very good, no any crack, no any chip and free from any restoration excepted slight with a bit warped. The lower part is the light reflection, that's not a repair. Diameter: 22 cm and Height: 7 cm.

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...

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. The dish measures 18.2cm in diameter an...

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. The dish measures 18.2cm in diameter...

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. This type of design would have required great dexteri...

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. This type of design would have required great dexterity and skil...

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. Inset within the brocade ground niche shaped reserves with st...

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. Inset within the brocade ground niche shaped reserves with st...

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. The Chinese term for Ruyi means “as you wish.” The curved decorative Lingzi (mushroom scepter) serves in ceremonial Chinese Buddhist r...

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. With descriptive tag on the base "From the Hall of Embodied Harmony". There is also a Museum Porcelain Exhibition tag. The tag has some losses but shows that the Exhibition was in the 1960's - item #238. It appears to be ...ingham, AR

Date:App...

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

A rare solid porcelain of Qinghai elephant sitting statue, nice impressive expression of the face of the elephant. Condition is perfect, with no any chip, no crack and free from any restoration except tiny firing crack to the tail. Song/Yuan Dynasty Jindezhen Qingbai ware. Acquired 15 years ago. Long: 15 cm.

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