Green or Blue, which will win this contest? Two shishi lions vie for our attention on this absolutely fabulous pair of 19th century screens. The images are performed with pigment on applied silver, not an easy medium from the start. One creature pounces, mouth open, teeth barred while the other crouches, mouth shut, ready to leap. Peony, a flower typically associated with the creatures, grows about them. Each screen is 68 x 137 inches (173 x 348 cm)...

Description: A brick oil-lamp was preserved finely. In cylindrical shape and with a hollowed-out cover, the oil lamp was in decent look when radiating out the ancient light. A Chinese character “Fu”-Good Fortune was intriguingly carved within the pattern of the hollowed cover. By an enduring old patina, the oil lamp was in perfect condition and can be used in a practical way. Date: 19th century. Height: 16.5cm, Width of the base: 16cm.

Large Chinese Qing dynasty Guangxu period bombe form censer (incense burner) with flared rim decorated in underglaze blue on a white porcelain ground with three horizontal rows of zhuanshu "shou" (longevity) ideographs extending around the circumference of the bulbous body. A key-fret border is above the calligraphy and a petal border is below it. Two underglaze blue concentric circles are on the recessed glazed base. The glaze extends up the interior of the unglazed foot rim...

Decorated with a deer, a bird between blossom and a poem. Good age wear and a warm glossy patina. H. 9 cm. Very good condition, apart from some age cracks and an old repair. 19th century.

A pair of iron Tibetan Phurbu Daggers. The top of the handles have four expressive faces of very good workmanship crowned with human skulls.The handle has a double lotus and eternal knots on each end.Above the blades there is a makara. Size: L. 21.7cm each. Condition: No repairs. Nice patina

Chinese Qing dynasty ink and color on silk painting of a maiden in a garden setting seated on rockery and holding a flower under a willow tree. The ink inscription at the upper left states the painting was executed in the guimao year (1843) after Ming artist Tang Yin (1470-1524). Signed Wujin artist Tang Luming (1804-1874) and with two red artist seals, "Tang Luming yin" and "Lemin." An unidentified collector’s seal is at the lower left. Framed with UV Plexiglas. 19th century...

With the original coral stopper and spoon. Chips to the mouthrim and to the foot. H. 7 cm

Spanish colonial era Philippine Santos estimated to be from mid-19th century. Hi-resolution images on request.

Made of red silk, embroidered in the 'forbidden stitch' with peonies and other flowers in red, yellow and white, lined with gold thread. The tassels bound with gold and silver thread. Dimensions: the pouch 7x6 cm, the tassels 16 cm.

Wisteria vines in gold and silver Maki-e lacquer decorate the natural body of this beautiful sake flask cut from a section of vine, hollowed and capped with natural wood and black lacquer, a pouring spout of brass bunged with bamboo. It is 9 inches (22 cm) tall and in fine condition, dating from the 19th century.

A 19th century (early Meiji) period Buddhist image we believe to be a thousand armed version of Yakushi Nyorai accompanied by two sages carved entirely of fragrant sandalwood on a gilded wooden base. The group is in total 15-1/2 inches (39 cm) tall, the image alone 5-1/2 inches (14 cm) tall. Both sages are missing an arm, as well as one lotus blossom rising from the wave patterned base. The holy figure itself also once had a greater number of arms, which have been lost over the last 150 years...

Chinese scholar's desk root wood (possibly cypress) sculpture depicting Sanxing (Three Star Gods) representing longevity, happiness, and wealth. The god of wealth holds a small child representing wishes for future good fortune through healthy offspring. Measures nearly 11" high by 12" long. Late Qing dynasty to early Republic period. Very good overall condition. There is old bug damage to the back of two heads which appears at one time to have been filled (see enlargements 9 and 10)...

A celadon, crackle glaze inverted rim bowl. The unglazed rim suggesting this had a cover as some examples of this form (sometimes referred to as an alms bowl) did. The shoulder, below the inverted rim, with two double fine line bands flanking relief flower head bosses. Strait lotus leaf motif adorning the side tapering to the foot. The foot unglazed (both the foot rim and inside the foot rim.) Though an earlier form, the weathered pretty green glaze appears to be Qing dynasty...

Chinese Qing dynasty Guangxu period famille rose porcelain seated Budai holding a string of pearls in his right hand and his bag in his left hand. Nicely carved custom wood stand in the form of a settee. 5” high (6” high including the stand). Circa 1900. Very good overall condition with no chips, cracks, or repairs. There is a minor imperfection to the stand. From an old Scottsdale, Arizona collection.

Chinese Qing dynasty ornately carved rootwood fly-whisk handle. Fly-whisks were carried by Buddhist priests to wave away flies which, according to Buddhist tenets, they could not kill. The fly-whisk is also a symbol of leadership. 19th century. 10 3/8" long. Very good overall condition with a nice patina. There are a few thin cracks visible in the enlargements. This piece is from the private collection of American expatriates who lived in Hong Kong in the 1970s and 1980s...

Large and heavy Chinese late Qing dynasty scholar's hardwood box (guanpixiang) suitable for holding documents, seals, ink sticks, and other desktop items. This form of furniture was originally constructed as a jewelry box for ladies, but was also used later as a scholar's box. A removable panel on the front lifts to reveal two narrow document trays at the top, five drawers in the mid-section, and one narrow document tray at the bottom...

Pair of Chinese porcelain bowls decorated in famille rose enamels with an opposing long-tailed phoenix and five-clawed dragon chasing flaming pearls among clouds over green waves. An orange-red five-clawed sinewy dragon among flames is in the interior well. A six-character kaishu iron-red Guangxu mark is on the base. Probably of the period and circa 1900. Custom stands and a padded silk presentation box are included. 7 3/4” diameter, 3 1/4” high. Very good overall condition with no chips...

Japanese woodblock print triptych by Kunisada, also known as Toyokuni III, (1786-1864) titled "Snow" from the series "Copied Pictures of an Edo Purple Eastern Capital" published by Sanoya Kihei between 1849-1850. The print illustrates a scene from Chapter 30 of Ryutei Tanehiko's 19th century novel "An Impostor Murasaki and a Rustic Genji (Inaka Genji)," which is loosely based on the 11th century novel "The Tale of Genji." Depicted is Mitsuuji, Lady Murasaki, and an attendant holding a brazier....