Fine Chinese Qianlong 18th Century Imari Porcelain Dish

This fine-quality porcelain dish with attractive floral pattern in underglaze blue, red enamel and gilding, was made during the 18th century, most likely during the Qianlong reign (1736 - 1795). The underside has a simple underglaze blue decoration and there is a brown iron wash around the rim edge to prevent "fritting" of the glaze during firing...

Japanese Meiji Cast Iron Tetsubin with Signature - Hailstone Pattern

The cast iron tetsubin (teapot / kettle) is of course the central feature of the tea ceremony. This example was made during the Meiji period (1868 - 1912) or possibly a little later, the pattern to the upper part of the kettle known as the hailstone or nail head pattern. It has a copper cover that is a perfect fit. There is a signature to the right of the spout and there also appear to be seal marks to the base...

Koi frolic, splashing gold and silver waves as they leap and battle for the top of this stacking food dish dating from the later 19th century. The design is striking! Outside is polished black loaded down with gold and silver maki-e with applied kirigane cut gold squares. Inside is festive red. The box (assembled) is 25 x 23 x 38 cm (10 x 9 x 15 inches). Some minor dings but overall, very nice condition for something which has seen use.

Maki-e Cranes soar and a gilded tortoise takes refuge on a rock on this magnificent sake set made of wood covered in lacquer with elaborate maki-e and applied gold designs. About the edge of the stand is a solid silver rim. The scenes are depicted with powdered gold and applied gold kirigane on red and black grounds. This is of the highest quality. The largest cup is about 12.5 cm (5 inches) diameter...

A sake set in the shape of a cha-usu tea powder grinding stone consisting of 7 pieces, each uniquely decorated with various creatures. The widest is a large sake cup decorated with cranes upon which rests the hai-dai stand, forming the base of the grinding stone. The cover is in the shape of the grinding stone itself, and forms a deep cup decorated inside with a hawk. Inside this are found three concentric cups decorated with crows, a carp and sparrows...

The comic-strip dog character Norakuro waves from the cockpit of this ceramic water-dropper (for grinding ink) in the shape of a war-plane. A waterdropper (suiteki) is filled with water and used to drip water onto a stone when grinding ink. This Suiteki has a wingspan of roughly 9.5 cm (just less than 4 inches). Norakuro is a black and white dog enlisted as a private in the “Mokenrentai” (Fierce Dog Brigade), an Imperial army of white dogs fighting in a war against the Monkey Army...

A Raku style coil and pinch formed Chawan engraved with a poem by Otagaki Rengetsu enclosed in an old fine quality kiri-wood box annotated by a tea master in Showa 32 (1957), the bowl named Kiju (Gift of the Season). The bowl is hand made, not formed on a wheel, and we can see clearly that she is not a professionally trained potter...

A fine rare three color lacquer box with cover of irregular form. Showing two pomegranate fruits borne on a leafy stem, in carved cinnabar, ochre and green lacquer, on a carved floret-swastika diaper ground. The sides of the box with hexagonal floret diaper. The base and interiors lacquered in black. These boxes are dated to the 18th century, Qianlong period...

A water bucket shaped earthenware vase finely painted with micro calligraphy in Kanji (Chinese characters), paper slips and chrysanthemum flowers in moriage technique. Base with "Kutani" mark. Dating to Taisho period or later. Condition: minor wear to gilding and colors, interior with few traces of usage. Dimension: c. 22.3 cm high, diameter: 8.2 cm, weight: 500 g.

Chinese Song Dynasty Carved Qingbai / Dehua Porcelain Bowl

This porcelain bowl was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279) at one of the Dehua kilns in Fujian province. The underside is decorated with a carved lotus petal design. It is coated in a very pale greenish qingbai glaze apart from the base where the white body is revealed. Although perhaps a little lower fired than some porcelain, the body is translucent...

Rare Finely Detailed Chinese Song Dynasty Incised Celadon Porcelain Bowl

This very attractive porcelain bowl was made during the 12th or 13th century at one of the kilns in Fujian province, where such wares were made for export around south-east Asia; indeed the silky-matt feel and appearance of the glaze suggest this bowl has been recovered from a shipwreck.

The incised pattern is particularly fine and well-executed...

Chinese Kangxi Blue & White Porcelain Box - Eight Treasures

This fine quality blue & white porcelain covered box was made during the Kangxi reign (1662 - 1722) of the Qing Dynasty. Both cover and box are attractively decorated in underglaze blue. The cover pattern features a spray of chrysanthemum, representing friendship and a life of ease, surrounded by "eight treasures", all representing good fortune...

The time of Obon is upon us, the middle of August when the spirits of the dead return to visit their families. A lantern is hung so the wandering souls may find their way. And on the last day of Obon (August 16), in Kyoto, is held perhaps the most famous of all the festivals, commonly referred to as Daimonji-yaki, when 6 massive characters are lit on fire in the mountains surrounding the city to light the way home for the ancestors...

At least two stories are forwarded to describe this ritual phurba -1 they are as protector of crops stored in granaries. 2- they are used during funerals , the bird is supposed to take away the souls of dead people during cremation or other burial ceremonies These type of phurba seems peculiar to Gurung priests or shamans. Important soot patina indicative of an important age , at least early to mid 20th. H 28 cm ,

An ancient pine and youthful bamboo rise in gold against a striking red background on this scroll set by Hirai Chokusui dated Mid-summer of Taisho 2 (1913) an enclosed in the original signed double wood box titled Ro-matsu Fu-chiku (ancient Pine, Wind in the Bamboo) Kindega Kenpon Sofuku (Gold Painted Silk Pair)...

An original Edo period kōsatsu public proclamation dated Tenwa I (1681) detailing the laws against Christianity, rewards for turning in a Christian to the authorities, as well as punishment for the offenders. Of cypress wood with sumi ink, and a hand-forged iron loop for suspension from a post or gate. The signboard has a shallow peaked “roof” to protect the calligraphy from the rain. However decades in the weather have caused the original surface to wear and bake away the surface, leavi...

Early Edo Myochin Signed Nimai Do with Nanban influence featuring gilded kusazuri and sode laced with blue chord dated Genwa 3 (1620). There are rows of Prominent rivets all about with nobori-kiri crests on the top of the munaita. Comes with an old wrapping cloth dyed with the same crest. The Hon-kozane Kusazuri are removable, attached to two leather belts suspended from iron tongs about the waist. The takahimo shoulder straps are wrapped in leather. The shaped horn clasps are extant but on...

Massive Qing dynasty Chinese polished bronze tripod ding censer with compressed body, two arched loop handles at the rim, and tapered legs fitted on a custom hardwood stand. Cast in a Ming dynasty style and bearing a six-character apocryphal Xuande reign period mark within a rectangle on the base. Believed to date as early as the 18th century. Censers of this size and form were typically used in temples. Censer: 11 1/2" diameter (10 3/4" diameter at the rim) x 8” high (to top of handles). ...