German sterling silver lady’s shoe. Imported to England by Theodor Hartman in 1902. Shoe has pointy upturned elf toe and open bands. Exterior decorated with scrolls, flowers, and tassel in low relief. Heel plain. German hallmark and English import marks with London city stamp and date letter. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 4 1/8 x W 2 7/8 x D 9 in. Weight: 8.3 troy ounces. #BH552

Pair of George III sterling silver goblets. Made by Henry Chawner in London in 1793. Ovoid bowl on cylindrical stem flowing into raised foot. Bowl underside and foot rim reeded. Bowl interior gilt. Spare Neoclassical form that works on traditional and Modern tables. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 5 7/8 x D 3 1/4 in. Total weight: 14 troy ounces. #BZ791

Edwardian sterling silver and enamel place card holders. Made by Sampson Mordan & Co. in Chester, 1905-13. Each: Two flat discs mounted to flat circular base. Front disc smaller and enameled scene with leaping, writhing fish, the hook and line barely visible. One has engraved 2-letter block monogram (ER). A second has same in script. Fully marked including 1905, 1912, and 1913 date letters as well as retailer’s stamps “Finnigan’s Manchester” (2) and “Wilson & Gill / 139 Regent St Londo...

Crafted from locally sourced Bizen clay, this mid-Edo period vase embodies simplicity, beauty, and understated elegance. Its unassuming form showcases the natural beauty of the clay, enhanced by a delicate ash glaze. The texture and shape evoke a sense of rustic charm, reflecting the profound harmony between human creativity and the organic world. Now several centuries old, this piece continues to serves not only as a functional display piece, but also as a symbol of the enduring leg...

Edwardian Classical sterling silver water pitcher. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Oval body on raised round foot. High-looping handle and helmet mouth. Chased oval frame with palmettes and acanthus leaves. Bead-and-reel border. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 14068, director’s letter C (1902-7), and volume 4 3/4 pts. Excellent condition.

Dimensions: H 11 3/8 x W 7 3/4 x D 4 3/4 in. Weight: 31.5 troy ounces. #BX005

Dating from the 17th century, Kutani-ware is a type of fine porcelain that takes its name from the region from which it originates—the name literally means “nine valleys.” In sharp contrast to many other styles of Japanese ceramics which tend towards more modest color palettes, Kutani-ware are known for their vibrant red enameles, gold trimming, and complementary greens, yellows, and blues. This set of tokkuri is painted with a common hanging-lantern ornamental pattern known as youraku. Th...

Here we have a beautiful scroll with a mounted letter penned by famed Japanese poet Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828) who is known as one of the 4 great haiku poets of Japan along with the likes of Bashō, Buson, and Shiki. As one might expect, Kobayashi’s life was one of turbulence punctuated by several tragedies including the death of his mother at an early age and a lengthy legal battle with his step-mother over the family inheritance after the death of his father. Through it all Kobay...

Also known as "The Buddha of Immeasurable Light and Life,” here in this pre-Edo Buddhist painting we see Amida and his two assistant bodhisattvas, Seishi on the left (associated with wisdom and strength), and Kannon on the right (associated with compassion and mercy), descending from the Western Pure Land to welcome newly deceased believers into the realm of paradise. In this practice known as raigō, the faithful are transported via the small lotus pedestal the Kannon holds in his...

Sometime around the year 1600 the first Takatori kiln was constructed at the foot of Mt Takatori in Fukuoka. This tradition was based on styles created by Korean potters brought to the shores of Japan during its colonial expansionism of the late 16th century. A favorite of the Kuroda lords of the time, its production and use was closely guarded until later in the 19th century when the domain system was abolished, freeing it up to be more widely used. Though Takatori-ware has been admired by many...

This scroll contains a sutra written as [寿至蓬莱不老僊], pronounced in Japanese as “Jyu-Ita-Hōrai-Furō-Sen.” Originating from Chinese, the characters “蓬莱” refer to the mythical land of “Penglai,” home to the immortals. According to legend the trees that grow here cure all disease; there are rice bowls and flasks of wine that never go empty; and its great castles are built entirely out of gold and silver.

The brushwork is done by a Rinzai sect m...

Set of 5 Edwardian sterling silver and enamel place card holders. Made by Sampson Mordan in Chester, 1904-8. Each: Two graduated discs of which the front decorated with grouse standing stiffly, alert to danger; landscape background varies. Flat round base. Perfect for the hunt dinner. Fully marked including date letters for 1904 (2), 1906 (1), 1907 (1), and 1908 (1). Three have design no. 402227 (registered in 1902) and two have design no. 429790 (registered in 1904). Very good condition.

Dim...

A key figure in the Japanese folk craft movement of the 20th century, Fujita Kyohei is credited with helping to develop a thriving glass-working community within Japan. Best known for his “dream” or “Liuli” boxes—very colorful and skillfully crafted boxes that often incorporated gold and silver leaf into their designs. Here we see a piece that would likely have been crafted earlier in his career but that demonstrates his masterful technique even then. In 1972 Fujita, along ...

Pair of German silver wedding cups. Imported to England by Martin Sugar in 1891. Each: Snug-fitting bodice and raised arms holding aloft scrolled brackets with swing-mounted double-domed bowl. Larger bowl in form of skirt. Chased and engraved strapwork and leafing scrolls. On back is a Green Man between conch-blowing cherubs. One in form of bosomy woman with crown. The other in form of hirsute man with wreath.

Hanau maker’s stamp (Neresheimer) and English sterling standard import marks with ...

Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and showcasing a soft and gracefully executed red glaze, this Raku tea bowl exudes a sense of ease, tenderness, and tranquility. Adorned with subtle crackling patterns and variations in texture, the tea bowl's surface adds to its unique and organic feel. Made by one of the true veterans of Japanese pottery, these are some of the finest Raku tea bowls you will find in all of Japan.

Sugimoto (b. 1935) is one of the most important...

Kohiki is a traditional Japanese pottery style known for its simple and rustic aesthetic. It involves applying a white slip onto the vessel's surface, followed by a transparent glaze, creating a contrast between the white and exposed clay areas. Kohiki ware is commonly used in tea ceremonies but it can also be found in various other forms. Its humble and understated style, with organic textures and subdued colors, continues to be appreciated by collectors worldwide. Here we see a koh...

An often overlooked implement in tea ceremony, here we have the humble kogo (incense box) with an image of a sleek and flowing dragon. Commonly thought to represent strength, freedom, good luck, and magic, dragons are a popular theme in the artwork across Eastern cultures. Interesting to note, the dragon here is portrayed in the Korean style with four claws, with dragons in China typically having five claws and dragons in Japan typically having three. Fashioned by one of the few great female Jap...

This Meiji period vase is made of fine white porcelain fashioned after classic Chinese motifs.. The potter, first generation Miura Chikusen, is the same generation as many of the better known Imperial Court artists (Kozan, Siefu, Tozan, etc…) and just as accomplished in terms of mastery of technique, level of artistic expression, and volume of pieces produced.

An exceptionally skilled Meiji potter, Chikusen (1854 – 1915) specialized in high-quality Kiyomizu-yaki and...

European silver flagon after the antique, late 19th century. Tapering bowl with curved front and back Tapering sides and curved front and back on spread and ribbed rectangular foot. Rectilinear neck with flat top. Round and domed cover with same ribbing and finial chained on both sides to ribbed rings loose-mounted to applied Classical satyr’s heads. Engraved Renaissance figures on front and armorial on back; leafing scrollwork and birds. Marked. Very good condition with deep patina.

Dimens...