Edwardian Classical sterling silver coffee set. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1907. This set comprises coffeepot, creamer, and sugar. Coffeepot: Tapering body on raised foot, hinged and domed cover with vasiform finial, vertical s-scroll spout, stained-wood scroll-bracket handle, and raised and round foot. Creamer: Tapering body, helmet mouth, scroll-bracket handle, and raised and round foot. Sugar: Hemispheric bowl with scroll-bracket side handles and raised and round foot. Traditional ...

We are delighted to present to you this remarkable pair of candlesticks in the shape of Athenian women, real jewels inspired by the drawings of the illustrious artist Jean-Charles Delafosse. These 18th century candlesticks harmoniously combine functionality and aesthetics, offering a unique experience. Each candle holder, in addition to being a magnificent candle holder, is also a refined perfume burner. The combination of these two functions makes them versatile and elegant pieces, bringing a ...

Deceptively simple and notoriously difficult to apply with the calligrapher’s brush in one fluid, arching stroke; the symbol of the ensō has long been associated with strength, elegance, and the simultaneous being and non-being of the universe. A closed ensō (such as the one featured here) is more closely associated with the idea of transcendent perfection, while an open ensō represents movement, fluidity, and attainment in the corporeal world. Though the monk who created this piece, Hasega...

The distinctive and easily recognizable style of Bizen pieces, such as the one featured here, originated in Okayama (south-western Japan) and has a long history that is closely intertwined with that of tea culture. Bizen-ware is known for employing a natural-ash glazing technique that is unique to this type of pottery and which requires extremely long firing times (7-14 days) at very high temperatures. This means that constant attention is required to ensure good results. The tea bowl shown here...

Classical sterling silver compote. Made by John Wendt for Ball, Black in New York, ca 1870. Round and curved bowl mounted to open support comprising three leafing oak shoots with acorns inset with cast figure of standing boy holding a ball in each hand with one arm raised. Domed foot. Reeding and beading.

A fashionable centerpiece evocative of youth and growth. The figure suggests the influence of the Dancing Faun, the ancient statue in the Uffizi in Florence that was a grand tour icon. The fr...

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. In some cases however, this proves to be a fruitless task and I am left only to appreciate the beauty and form of the object without having access to too many d...

Shiko Munakata (1903 ~ 1975)
Date: April 10, 1959.
Seated Figure. Here titled by the artist, "At Columbus" (コランバスに於て). Also signed by the artist and dedicated in pencil in Japanese at the top right, "to Ms. Ryuko Sato".
Munakata's famous 1959 United States lecture tour took him through Ohio. On the tour, he was known to carve one-off woodblock prints on the spot at gatherings and present them to hosts or guests, as once described on the Antiques Roadshow. We believ...

Victorian sterling silver wine cooler. Deep ovoid bowl on raised foot. Leaf-capped dolphin scroll-bracket side handles. Bead-and-reel and leaf-and-dart borders. Chased frieze depicting garland-entwined, barefooted, long-tressed nymphs, their loose drapery suggestive of overflowing abundance. Fin-de-siecle Classicism for a new age.

This piece was two or three years old when it was exhibited at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.

Fully marked including maker’s stamp, patte...

Simple yet classic styling—this tea bowl is perfect for anyone looking for the quintessential Ido-shaped chawan crafted by one of Japan’s premier Hagi potters.

Born in the famed pottery town of Karatsu in 1942, Zenzo Hatano spent a number of years learning the various styles particular to his region before taking up an apprenticeship under well-known Hagi potter Yoshiga Taibi. Winner of a number of awards including the Japan Crafts Exhibition Award in 1977, Hatano�...

A testament to the brilliance of traditional Japanese craftsmanship, this lacquered mizusashi—skillfully handcrafted from bamboo—showcases a deep crimson hue that radiates warmth and sophistication. Its seamless design and flawless finish reflect the skilled hands of the first generation artisan who crafted it, achieving a harmonious balance between form and function. Designed for use in Japanese tea ceremony, this indispensable implement would love to be put back into service o...

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...

An example of some of the finest porcelain modern Japan has to offer. According to Wakao Kei, the artist who crafted this piece, it took him years of trial and error to perfect these stunning translucent glazes and associated techniques such as getting the right flowing consistency and pooling effect around the base. The unglazed portions at the foot of the bowl seen here in pictures was created by the artist's fingers as he plunged the vessel into the glaze while holding firmly to the porcelain...

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...

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki)
Two Paintings of "Tama" Cats - Black and Beige
Date: Not known. There was a June 1924 Tama cat woodblock print (see our Shotei061) in which the white cat is in the reverse orientation.
Size (Black Cat): Paper: 15.5 x 11.375 inches (38.9 x 28.9 cm). Image: 13 x 9.25 inches (32.8 x 23.4 cm).
Size (Beige Cat): Paper size: 15.25 x 11.375 inches (38.8 x 28.8 cm). Image: 13 x 9.25 inches (33.1 cm X 23.5 cm).
Medium: Japanese paintings on paper. The ...

Enryakuji Temple, Hiyeizan (Hieizan), Kyoto.
Artist not identified.
Dated August 21st, 1937.
Size: 7.5 x 5375 inches (19 x 13.6 cm).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print as the cover of a dinner menu of the Nippon Yusen Line passenger ship, Chichibu Maru.
Publisher: Likely Nippon Mokuhan Co. Tokio (Japan Woodblock Co. Tokyo), who produced another of our ship menu woodblock prints.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print made from a carved wood block. Mechanization was added to...

Sabra Field (American, born 1935)
Going Home
Date: ca 1980 (as noted on separate board)
Paper size: 13 x 8.5 inches.
Image size: 9.5 x 5 inches.
Medium: Woodcut print.
Condition: Light scuff on mountain.

Edwardian Regency sterling silver box. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1909. Oval with straight sides. Cover hinged and tabbed; top overhanging with chased patera; center (vacant) has bead-and-reel border, radiating flutes, and stylized flowerheads. Interior has traces of gilt wash. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 17518 (first produced in 1909), and director’s letter m. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 3/4 x W 5 1/4 x D 3 3/8 in. Weight: 5.8 troy ounces. #BZ517...

Edwardian Classical sterling silver picture frame. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1909. Rectangular window with concave border and molded rim. With glass, silk lining, and velvet back and hinged easel support for landscape (horizontal) display. Perfect for a special wide-angled shot with room for everyone. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, no. B3936, and date symbol. Very good condition.

Dimensions: Frame: H 8 1/2 x W 11 3/4 in. Window: H 6 3/4 x W 9 7/8 in. #BZ575