Victorian sterling silver scent bottle, 1889. Ovoid with short neck and threaded ball cover. Allover repousse with flowers and scrolls. A peacock on one side, a dove on the other. Pretty and portable. Worn marks including London assay stamp. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 3 3/8 x W 1 7/8 x D 1 in. Weight: 1.5 troy ounces. #BR502

Tokoname pottery has a rich history that dates back over a thousand years. Originating in the town of Tokoname in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, this pottery tradition has flourished due to the region's abundant red clay deposits. The history of Tokoname pottery can be traced to the 12th century when the art form was greatly influenced by Chinese ceramics, specifically, by the Yixing clay pottery tradition. Over the centuries, Tokoname pottery evolved to develop its unique style characteri...

The term “Raku” was once reserved for a style of pottery produced by a specific household in Kyoto that began over 450 years ago. Over the years, as it gained popularity, several branch kilns were established (Ōhi, Tamamizu) and a number of other lineages arose making pieces in the style of Raku, though they were not formally associated with the Raku household. Today, we see that Raku has become a world-wide phenomena and the name is no longer reserved strictly for the Raku fami...

Set of 12 Edwardian sterling silver holders. Made by Schofield in Baltimore, ca 1910. Each: Round and curved bowl with floral repousse; open bottom and plain spread foot. High-looping side handles with case repousse-style floral ornament. With: Cream porcelain inserts with gilt rim bands. Originally intended for bouillon but perfect for rich treats like ice cream and custard. Holders marked “Sterling” with maker’s mark. Inserts have maker's mark (Lenox). Very good condition.

Overall dime...

Pair of Repousse sterling silver ice tongs. Made by S. Kirk & Son in Baltimore. U-form applied with dense flowers and leaves in crisp relief; leaf jaws. Fully marked including maker’s stamp (1932-61). Condition: Strong definition. Taut and springy.

Height: 6 1/4 in. Weight: 2 troy ounces. #BY816

At various times over the long history of tea practice in Japan, Korean-ware has come into high fashion and ships full of the finest ceramics from the neighboring country were brought to its shores. Such pieces have long been favored by learned cha-jin (tea people); and, older pieces such as this are quite prized today as relatively few from this era have survived in good condition. While it is possible this piece is of Japanese origin, its apparent age would make it more likely to h...

Turn-of-the-century cut-glass perfume bottle with sterling silver stopper. Globular with short and faceted neck and shoulder, and everted rim. Star, fern, and diaper ornament. Globular stopper with dense repousse-style flowers and ferns on stippled ground. Marked “Sterling” with stamp for James R. Armiger Co., a Baltimore maker that began working under that name in 1896. Very good condition with deep patina.

Dimensions: H 6 7/8 x D 3 5/8 in. #BM943 & BM944

Accents formed using iron pigment stand out across a backdrop of blue-green glaze. The base and a portion of the inside of this ceremonial tea bowl are unglazed displaying rich clay. Created by Shibayama Toshiya, this is an example of contemporary Japanese ceramics at its finest.

A native of Nagoya Shibayama (b. 1959) is exceptionally versatile, working in styles such as Seto, Shino, Karatsu, and Shigaraki among others. A practitioner of tea himself, Shibayama is known for crafting ...

Victorian Classical sterling silver coffee and tea set. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1885. This set comprises 5 pieces: Coffeepot, teapot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl. Each: Round body with floral repousse between chased and engraved leaf-and-dart and ogee borders; beaded rims. Handles high looping and covers domed with reeded finial. Coffeepot and teapot have s-scroll spout with applied stylized ornament. Coffeepot neck has engraved stippled zigzag border with incised trefoils.

Fully m...

Currently in its 5th generation, the Miura Chikusen line of potters has continued to produce high-quality Kiyomizu-yaki and Kyo-yaki porcelains used in sencha for well over 150 years. The piece seen here is by the third generation potter and has the rare distinction of being endorsed by Sokuchusai, a former Head Tea Master of Omotesenke in Kyoto. Simple and elegant, a section of bamboo stands out in contrast to the white crackled porcelain glaze. If you are looking for a representative work by o...

Edwardian glass tobacco jar with sterling silver cover. Made by S. Kirk & Son Co. in Baltimore, ca 1910. Jar has curved sides with cut bead-and-reel fluting and short inset neck; star cut to underside; Cover curved with allover floral repousse on stippled ground. Fully marked including maker’s stamp (1903-24) and no. 189. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 7 3/4 x D 5 3/8 in. Weight (silver only): 4.8 troy ounces. #BZ221

Japanese bamboo crafting, known as "Takezaiku," is a traditional art form that involves the skilled manipulation of bamboo to create various functional and decorative objects. Craftsmen trained in this art carefully select bamboo of appropriate size and quality, then use specialized tools to cut, shape, and join the bamboo pieces. Techniques such as splitting, bending, weaving, and binding are employed to achieve intricate designs and durable structures. Bamboo crafting encompasses a...

A delightful Hagi tea bowl from the Jōzan Kiln in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Very representative of the genre with its milky glaze and ido-shape. This piece is a step above their typical offerings as can be discerned not only from the lovely composition but also from the quality of the box and the silk pouch that was also custom furnished. For those interested in getting better acquainted the world of Hagi without spending the thousands of dollars typical for works by better known artist...

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...

Victorian Classical sterling silver coffee and tea set. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. This set comprises coffeepot, teapot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl.

Each: Bellied bowl on concave foot ring. Covers raised with cast bud finial (pot covers hinged). Teapot, coffeepot, and creamer have high-looping handle. Sugar has c-scroll side handles. All handles have stylized volute scroll and dart mounts. Spare with repousse rinceaux band. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 1982, ...

Painted lacquerware in Asia is thought to have more than 3,000 years of history; originating in China and then later spreading to South East Asia, Korea, and Japan. One reason this craft has taken centuries to perfect is that the sap of the tree used is highly toxic and irritating to the skin and to the lungs. Even minor contact with the raw materials can cause serious issues, making collecting and refining it quite labor intensive. Additionally, once collected it takes on average 3-5 years for ...

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...

The artist who produced this piece, Wataru Motomura, prides himself in living a traditional life in the eastern hills of Kyoto—long known for its rich clay and idyllic pastoral lands. Though the form of this vessel appears innovative and modern, the techniques and materials used to produce it have been around for many hundreds of years. Taking inspiration from the varied pottery traditions of his native Hyogo, Motomura is also known to use clay and methods from the Shigaraki region and many of...