Large Chinese Ming Dynasty Painted Pottery Tile - Bird in Flight

This rare and unusual pottery tile was made during the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368 - 1644). It is made from a grey pottery and is particularly "heavily-potted". It features, in high relief, a bird in flight. Note the detail to the bird's feathers. It has been cold-painted in red and white pigments. Cloud patterns have been inscribed into the flat background...

Iron laced with tinges of blue decorates the rim, flowing into the bowl of these five abalone shaped dishes from 19th century Takatori in central Kyushu enclosed in a beautiful age darkened kiri-wood box titled Awabi Mukozuke Go Kyaku Takatori Yaki (Five Abalone Shaped Dishes from Takatori). Each is roughly 9.5 x 12.5 cm (4 x 5 inches) and each bears the “Taka” stamp beneath. No post-firing damage...

Rare Tall Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty Decorated Glazed Jar

This attractively-shaped pottery jar was made during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25 - 220) and comes from Shaanxi province in the northwest of China. It is made from a red pottery, quite heavily potted, has a wide body, narrow neck and trumpet-shaped mouth. Simple decorative incised lines surround the neck and shoulder...

Rare Chinese Northern Song / Jin Dynasty Twin-Handled Jar

This rare and unusual jar was made at one of the northern kilns during the 11th - 13th century. It is coated both inside and out in a thick glaze that varies in colour from chocolate-brown to black. The glaze fall short of the base on both the inner and outer surfaces. The outer body is decorated with a fluted wall and lightly incised horizontal lines that surround the jar at its shoulder...

Large Chinese Neolithic Machang Phase Painted Pottery Jar - Liuwan Type

This large pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago during the Machang Phase (c. 2300 - 2000 BC) of the Majiayao culture, also known as the Gansu-Yangshao culture, from present day Gansu or Qinghai province. It is relatively highly-fired and made from a pale yellowish-brown pottery. It has an unusually small neck compared to its large body size...

This is a Song dynasty (960 – 1276 A.D.) white glaze stem cup. It rest on a flared foot rising inwards to a short neck and then towards a everted u-shaped cup. It has a simple abstract cloud like wave motive between two bands of lines. On the underside, the white glaze flow stopped short at about half way down the stem exposing the light buff colour stoneware. A nice piece.

There is no repair or restoration. No chip or crack...

Fine Tall Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery "Stick" Girl

This fine and rare painted pottery figure of a nude girl was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8), more specifically, the 2nd century BC. It is one of a variety of Han Dynasty "stick" figures. The vast majority of "stick" figures represent males; female figures are particularly rare...

Part of a ceremonial dancing apron. Dimensions: 15 x 4 cm. Good condition with extensive age wear and a glossy patina.

Large Chinese Neolithic Painted Pottery Jar - Machang (c. 2300 - 2000 BC)

This large and impressive pottery jar was made over 4,000 years ago during the Machang Phase (c. 2300 - 2000 BC) of the Majiayao culture, also known as the Gansu-Yangshao culture, from present day Gansu or Qinghai province. The pottery is an attractive pale orange/brown colour and it is relatively highly-fired. It is quite "heavily-potted" with a well-rounded body, two sturdy loop handles and flared mouth...

Pure elegance and simplicity of form by Komazawa Risai enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Mage-Kensui (Round Spent Water Container). It is lacquered outside is tame-nuri opaque wine-red, inside is polished ro-iro black decorated with gold reeds overlapping from all directions. It is 16 cm (6-1/2 inches) diameter, 7 cm (2-3/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition...

Chinese late Qing dynasty rectangular form hinged cloisonne box with inner tray resting above an open compartment decorated on the exterior in cloud form cloisons with butterflies, flowers, and scrolling foliage emerging from rockery and set against a turquoise ground. Blue counter enamel interior and base...

Fine LARGE Vietnamese 15th Century Blue & White Porcelain Dish (34 cm)

This impressive dish was made during the mid 15th century. It is "heavily-potted" and attractively decorated in underglaze cobalt of deep blue, the upper surface decorated with a central blossom surrounded by floral patterns, whilst the outer wall is decorated with lotus leaf patterns. The clear glaze is finely-crackled in places. The recessed flat base is coated in a thin chocolate-brown wash.

This dish is much larger ...

Chinese or Vietnamese wooden Christian cross with beautiful lotus and vines decoration inlaid in engraved mother of pearl. Condition: center with chipped area (please see photo no. 7) and few lost inlays, rearside with paper residue. Dimension: 46.7 cm x 24.2 cm x 1.8 cm.

Decorated with geometric motifs. W. 16 cm, H. 18 cm. Weight 300 gr. Great condition with nice age wear. Early to mid 20th century. Literature: ' Ethnic Jewellery from Africa, Asia and Pacific Islands, the René van der Star Collection' , page 115.

Fine & Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Black Pottery Censer

We have recently been lucky enough to have acquired a collection of very rare examples of burnished black pottery items made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). Such items are relatively unknown and very little has been published about them. They are found in the northern provinces, particularly Gansu province in the north-west.

A black pottery censer; it is quite heavily-potted with a wide flat rim and three legs. It has a burn...

A nice carved curling pig dragon with a bird head terminal to the crest. Hongshan styles have been copied through out different dynasties. It is hard to date this piece, probably early 20th century. Will make a nice pendant. Size: H.5cm, W. 4.5cm.

Brass divination tapper adorned with two stylized faces. Early 20th century. L. 18 cm. Ex coll. Ursula Voorhuis (1932-2021), The Netherlands. The Yoruba typically turn to a babalawo (diviner) when seeking advice or faced with an illness. An iroke Ifa (also called irofa, iro Ifa, iro ike, orunfa, orun Ifa, orunke or orun ike; meaning ‘tapper of Ifa’) is an object that forms part of the divination ensemble. It, along with an opon Ifa, agere Ifa, palm nuts and a number of other objects, a...

Larger Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Porcelain Bowl (Ex. Grahame Clarke Collection)

This fine and attractive porcelain bowl was made during the 15th / early 16th century. It is decorated in underglaze blue of particularly good colour. In its centre enclosed within double blue rings is a peony, the emblem of spring and a symbol of riches, honour, love, affection and feminine beauty. A peony scroll decorates the outer wall. 

A larger size than most Ming bowls of this period with a dia...