Belle Epoque Rococo 950 silver jardiniere centerpiece, ca 1900. Bombe oval bowl with wide and tapering rim. Embossed twisted fluting and applied round frames (vacant) with scallop shell crown supported by winged cherubs. Elaborate end handles, each with cast figure of lunging cherub, holding drapery in one hand and flowers in the other, between leaf-wrapped double-scrolls. Four leaf-mounted scroll supports. A sumptuous homage to the 18th century. Detachable brass liner. Fully marked including Mi...

Victorian sterling silver baby cup. Made by George W. Shiebler & Co. in New York, ca 1890. Curved bowl with allover frond and flower repousse on stippled ground. Reeded scroll bracket handle wrapped with applied band decorated with stylized flower head. Gilt-washed interior. Fully marked including maker’s and retailer’s (JE Caldwell) stamps and no. 1306. Very good condition with deep patina.

Dimensions: H 3 3/4 x W 4 1/2 x D 3 1/8 in. Weight: 4.8 troy ounces. #BY965

Edwardian Classical sterling silver sugar caster. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1909. Upward tapering bowl with reeding; stepped and spread foot. Cover domed with vasiform finial; top has ornamental piercing. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 17583 (first produced in 1909), and director’s letter m. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 6 x D 2 5/8 in. Weight: 6.6 troy ounces. #BY560

Imperial Chrysanthemum sterling silver soup ladle. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1900. Tapering stem with waisted terminal and lobed round bowl. Dense ornament with flowers and leaves. Bowl interior gilt-washed with same. A nice serving piece in the late-comer Japonesque pattern, which was first produced in 1894. Fully marked including maker’s stamp. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 12 3/4 x W 4 x D 3 7/8 in. Weight: 8.2 troy ounces. #BY819

Edwardian Classical sterling silver vase. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1912. Tapering sides with flared mouth rim and stepped round foot. Acid-etched vertical ornament with alternating wide and narrow curvilinear frames with stylized leaves and volute scrolls; foot encircled with curvilinear volute scrolls and pendant flower heads. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 18193B (first produced in 1912), and director’s letter m. Very good condition with strong definition.

Edwardian Classical sterling silver vase. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1912. Tapering sides with flared mouth rim and stepped round foot. Acid-etched vertical ornament with alternating wide and narrow curvilinear frames with stylized leaves and volute scrolls; foot encircled with curvilinear volute scrolls and pendant flower heads. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 18193B (first produced in 1912), and director’s letter m. Very good condition with strong definition.

Edwardian Classical sterling silver powder box. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Round and bellied with flat and scrolled cover. Chased and applied ornament. On bowl oval reeded frames joined by pendant garlands. On cover central same frame (vacant) surrounded by scallop shells, scrolls, cornucopia, flower baskets, and cherubs. Gilt interior. With puff for ladylike maquillage. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 14915 (first produced in 1901), and director’s letter T (1892-19...

Pair of Edwardian sterling silver creamer and sugar. Made by S. Kirk & Son Inc. in Baltimore. Ovoid bodies and high looping handles. Creamer has helmet mouth and sugar has raised cover and finial. Frond and flower repousse; at bottom leaf and scallop shell border. Fully marked including maker’s stamp (1925-32), no. 74, and phrase “Hand Decorated”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: Creamer: H 6 x W 6 x D 4 1/4 in. Sugar: H 7 1/2 x W 7 1/4 x D 5 in. Total weight: 26 troy ounces. #BY449

Edwardian Classical sterling silver vanity pair. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1900. This pair comprises hand mirror and hairbrush. Mirror has round scalloped frame and the brush has shaped oval frame. Embossed ornament with chubby, naked cherubs frolicking with a dolphin (mirror) and holding overhead a fruit basket (brush). Scroll and flower borders with masks. Frothy and frivolous. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and nos. C475 (mirror) and C1502 (brush). Very good condition.

Dimens...

Edwardian Classical sterling silver creamer. Made by Whiting Manufacturing Co. in New York, ca 1910. Ovoid with helmet mouth and scroll bracket handle. Half gadrooning. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and no. 5014, letters SML, and volume (2 pts). Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: H 6 3/8 x W 6 3/4 x D 3 3/8 in. Weight: 12.8 troy ounces. #BY003

Edwardian Classical sterling silver bowl. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1906. Solid oval well and curved sides with pierced diaper and open leafing scrollwork. Rim reeded and steeply asymmetrical with applied shells, scrolls, and flowers. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, no. A5863, and date symbol. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 5 3/4 x W 12 x D 8 1/4 in. Weight: 15.3 troy ounces. #BY350

Victorian Regency sterling silver salver. Made by John Aldwinckle and James Slater in London in 1880. Round and solid well engraved with stylized garland frame (vacant) in ornamental surround. Shoulder has applied ribbon-tied garland with pendant patera and open colonnade; beaded rim. Three c-scroll supports with open colonnade and applied garland. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 2 1/8 x D 18 1/4 in. Heavy weight: 78 troy ounces. #BY506

Victorian sterling silver bowl. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Curved sides with repousse fern and flower pattern. Cast interior rim comprising alternating ferns and flower heads. Four leafing scroll-mounted paw supports. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 9447 (first produced in 1887), director’s letter M (1873-91), and volume (6 1/2 pts). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 4 1/8 x D 9 1/2 in. Weight: 24.6 troy ounces. #BY389

Edwardian Classical sterling silver bowl. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Oval well with tapering sides and wavy, scrolled rim. Chased and cast scrolls, flowers, leaves, and scallop shells. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 14367, and director’s letter C (1902-7). Excellent condition.

Dimensions: H 1 7/8 x W 12 3/4 x D 9 7/8 in. Weight: 22.6 troy ounces. #BY173

Classical coin silver baby cup. Made by Eoff & Connor, a partnership active in New York from 1833 to 1835. Bellied bowl with drum-form neck, flared rim, and capped s-scroll handle; raised and stepped foot. Shaped frame (vacant) with chased scrolling leaf surround, and leaf and flower bands. Foot has cast egg-and-dart border. Handwork visible on interior. Lovely with strong regional association. Marks include “J.H. Connor” and “G. Eoff” stamps. Very good condition with nice patina.

Over...

Edwardian Classical sterling silver trinket box. Made by Howard & Co. in New York in 1901. Oval with straight sides and flat hinged cover. Leafing scrollwork applied to sides and cover top, which also has centrally mounted cherub’s head. Reeded rims with applied leaf border. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, year, and no. 1465. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 2 3/4 x W 6 3/8 x D 4 7/8 in. Heavy weight: 17.5 troy ounces. #BX686

Victorian Classical sterling silver water pitcher. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Tapering and fluted ovoid body, beaded helmet mouth, and high-looping double-scroll handle. Four cast leafing scroll supports. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 12420 (first produced in 1895), and director’s letter T (1892-1902). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 8 3/4 x W 9 x D 5 in. Weight: 28 troy ounces. #BX939

Pair of Victorian Classical sterling silver bowls. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Each: Round with plain well and curved and fluted sides. Turned-down lobed rim. Four ball supports Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 10374 (first produced in 1889), and director’s letter M (1873-91). Excellent condition.

Dimensions: H 1 1/4 x D 5 3/4 in. Total weight: 7 troy ounces. #BX708

Large and Modern sterling silver serving tray. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1923. Oval with deep well, wide shoulder, and molded rim. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 20182 (first produced in 1923), and director’s letter m. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 7/8 x W 18 x D 13 in. Heavy weight: 50 troy ounces. #BY134

Large and Modern sterling silver serving tray. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1923. Oval with deep well, wide shoulder, and molded rim. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 20182 (first produced in 1923), and director’s letter m. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 7/8 x W 18 x D 13 in. Heavy weight: 53 troy ounces. #BY135

Edwardian Classical sterling silver water pitcher, ca 1910. Wide ovoid body with helmet mouth and leaf-capped scroll handle with split bottom mount. Bead-and-reel rims. Fully marked including no. 25 and marks for Boston firms Bigelow, Kennard and Goodnow & Jenks. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 7 1/4 x W 8 1/2 x D 6 in. Weight: 22 troy ounces. #BX665

Victorian Neoclassical sterling silver epergne. Made by Charles Stuart Harris in London in 1895. Central oval frame with pendant leaf garland threaded through fixed rings and supporting oval medallions with amphorae applied to stippled ground. Frame rests on 4 leaf-capped and scrolled supports terminating in pierced leaf feet. Shaft is reeded and has applied leaf garland with paterae mounts, and supports large boat-form basket. Eight leaf-capped and scrolled arms, each terminating in single b...

Edwardian Modern Regency sterling silver basket. Made by the Sweetser Co. in New York, ca 1910. Faceted octagonal bowl with straight and tapering sides on spool support mounted to raised and faceted octagonal foot; fixed curvilinear handle. Engraved ornament with fluted and paterae curvilinear borders forming frames of which four vacant and the others inset with garlands, scrollwork, and vases. Handle has pendant flowers and oval frames inset with paterae. Fully marked including maker’s stamp ...

French Belle Epoque Classical 950 silver tea urn, ca 1900. Ovoid with turned stained-wood handles with silver scroll and leaf mounts. Scaly fish spout with tail mount and gaping mouth spout and turned stained wood and silver scroll tap. Double-domed cover with berry finial. Three double-scroll supports with leaf mounts and feet mounted to stepped and stained-wood drum-form blocks. Heating element set in scroll-mounted ring. Twisted fluting and lobing. Vitruvian scroll and leaf borders. Engraved...

Victorian Classical coin silver baby cup. Made by Wood & Hughes in New York, ca 1860. Curved and tapering bowl. Flared rim and spread foot with leaf-and-dart border on lined ground. Scroll bracket handle with quatrefoil mounts. Heart-shaped leafing scroll frame (vacant) surrounded by tendrils and flowers. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and no. 4. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 3 3/4 x W 4 3/8 x D 3 1/8 in. Weight: 4.4 troy ounces. #BX724

German Classical silver beaker cup, 18th century. At top leafing scrollwork and scallop shells; at bottom twisted leaf-and dart border. Ornament chased and heightened with engraving. Interior gilt washed. Maker’s mark comprising letters S and I. Condition: Minor dent on bottom otherwise very good with excellent patina.

Dimensions: H 3 3/4 x D 3 in. Weight: 3 troy ounces. #BX624

George V sterling silver vase. Made by Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. Ltd in Sheffield in 1913. Tapering and girdled tube on stepped foot. Flared and castellated rim with applied molding and ornament. Lion’s head side mounts with hinged and turned rings. Fully marked, including design no. 13163. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 10 1/4 x D 4 1/2 in. Weight: 14.5 troy ounces. #BX034

George V sterling silver vase. Made by Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. Ltd in Sheffield in 1912. Tapering and girdled tube on stepped foot. Flared and castellated rim with applied molding and ornament. Lion’s head side mounts with hinged and turned rings. Fully marked, including design no. 13163. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 10 1/4 x D 4 1/2 in. Weight: 15.5 troy ounces. #BX033

George V sterling silver vase. Made by Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. Ltd in London in 1911. Tapering and girdled tube on stepped foot. Flared and castellated rim with applied molding and ornament. Lion’s head side mounts with hinged and turned rings. Fully marked, including design no. 13163. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 10 1/4 x D 4 1/2 in. Weight: 14.5 troy ounces. #BX032

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

Edwardian Georgian sterling silver monteith bowl. Made by William Hutton & Sons, Ltd in London in 1906. Round and curved on raised and stepped foot. Molded curvilinear rim with interspersed with leaves and applied pendant flowers. Vertical strapwork bands with laurel-wreathed oval frames (vacant) in leafing scroll surround applied to same-shaped stippled ground. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 6 5/8 x D 10 1/2 in. Weight: 40 troy ounces. #BW931

French Belle Epoque 950 silver tureen, ca 1910. Tapering oval curvilinear bowl on same raised foot with gadrooned rims. Leaf-mounted double c-scroll end handles. Raised cover. Restrained turn-of-the-century Classicism enlivened with a cast still life finial: A couple bird carcasses draped on top of a sweet bunny, with forelegs raised as if to hop away, and hindlegs limp and splayed now that hopping is no longer an option. An unsentimental depiction of the dinner’s ingredients with a bit of gr...

Victorian Modern sterling silver cigar box. Made by Joseph Braham in London in 1897. Rectangular with straight sides. Flat top with double hinged end covers. Center has scroll bracket handle; open rectangles at ends inset with detachable cutters. Also, detachable lighter and strike. Interior cedar lined and partitioned. Box underside leather lined. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 4 3/4 x W 9 1/8 x D 6 3/4 in. Heavy gross weight: 40.4 troy ounces. #BW977

Victorian Classical sterling silver porringer. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Bowl has curved sides and rim applied with bold beading. Leaf-mounted open scroll handle with scallop shells. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 12755, and director’s letter T (1892-1902). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 2 1/4 x W 7 1/4 x D 5 1/8 in. Weight: 8.5 troy ounces. #BW510

English Victorian cologne bottle, 1880. Cut-glass cylinder with short and threaded inset neck. Ball cover in form of male head with big ears, receding hairline, tronie-style grimace, and red bead eyes. Fully marked including London assay stamp and unidentified maker’s initials “T.S” in oval. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 6 x D 2 1/4 in. #BW614

English Georgian Neoclassical sterling silver basket, ca 1790. Ovoid body on same foot with reeded c-scroll swing handle. Engraved wavy-shaped frame (vacant) and ornamental borders. Linear and circular piercing and beading. Partially worn marks include London assay stamp. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H (with handle) 11 1/2 x W 14 1/4 x D 10 1/2 in. Weight: 27.5 troy ounces. #JM

French 950 silver inkwell on stand, ca 1910. Straight sides with vertically applied strapwork bands; curved bottom and raised foot. Cover hinged and domed with flower-head finial. Gadrooned rims. Interior has engraved curvilinear border and clear-glass liner. Mounted to oval curvilinear stand with ornamental border. Fully marked including maker’s stamp CG. Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: H 5 x W 9 3/8 x D 5 7/8 in. Weight (without glass): 15.5 troy ounces. #BT381

George V sterling silver jewelry box. Made by Levi & Salaman in Birmingham in 1913. Octagonal with straight sides and hinged and domed cover. Cover inlaid with star-form floral garland. Box interior velvet lined. Box underside leather lined. Fully marked. Good with attractive velvet wear.

Dimensions: H 2 1/8 x W 4 3/8 x D 4 3/8 in. Gross weight: 5.4 troy ounces. #BN234

George V sterling silver and pink guilloche enamel vanity set. Made by Charles S. Green & Co., Ltd in Birmingham in 1927-8. This set comprises 4 pieces: Hand mirror, hairbrush, clothes brush, and button hook. Mirror and hairbrush have armorial backs and tapering and fluted silver handles with vasiform finials. Button hook handle tapering. Clothes brush tubular. Enamel has wavy and radiating pattern with leafing scroll borders and pendant garlands.

Fully marked. Mirror and brush have design no....

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...

Modern sterling silver tray. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Deep well, wide shoulder, and flat rim. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 20188, and director's letter L (1956-ca 1965). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 7/8 x D 13 in. Heavy weight: 28.5 troy ounces. #BY657

Craftsman sterling silver porringer. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1910. Traditional form. Unusual open geometric handle. Allover spot hammering. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and no. A5235. Very good condition with nice shimmer.

Dimensions: H 2 x W 6 5/8 x D 4 3/4 in. Weight: 7.8 troy ounces. #BX326

Bird’s Nest sterling silver egg spoon. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1880. Leafing twig stem and nest terminal lain with 3 eggs. Bowl elongated oval and gilt with monogram engraved on verso. Marks include maker’s stamp from last quarter of 19th century. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 4 1/2 x W 1 in. #BY578

Danish Midcentury Modern sterling silver compote. Wide and round bowl mounted to shaft with understated Classical ornament: Urn with bold and stylized leaf-and-dart ornament on sides, in turn mounted to baluster with half fluting; wavy borders. Domed foot. Visible hand hammering. Fully marked including maker’s stamp for Roif Fritiof Bratland, who was active from 1956-73, as well as no. 85A. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 11 3/4 x D 10 1/2 in. Weight: 33 troy ounces. #BY987

English Georgian sterling silver salver, 1926. Retailed by Tiffany & Co. in England. Round with molded serpentine rim. Four scroll-mounted hoof supports. Fully marked including maker’s stamp (Thomas Bradbury & Sons Ltd) and London assay stamp as well as retailer’s stamp (“Tiffany & Co / England”). Very good condition.

Large dimensions: H 1 5/8 x D 16 3/8 in. Heavy weight: 64 troy ounces. #BY289

Victorian Classical sterling silver coffeepot. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Baluster with vertical spout and hinged and domed cover. Stained-wood finial and capped scroll handle. Repousse rinceaux bands and applied gadrooned borders on body; repousse twisted leaves on cover top. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 6233, and director’s letter T (1892-1902). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 9 3/8 x W 8 3/4 x D 5 1/2 in. Gross weight: 23.4 troy ounces. #BX707

Turn-of-the-century Chantilly-Grand sterling silver 3-piece coffee set. Made by Gorham in Providence. This set comprises coffeepot, creamer, and sugar. Scrolled rims, spread and scrolled foot, and reeded and leaf-capped scroll handles. Two scrolled cartouches of which one vacant and the other engraved with interlaced script monogram. Coffeepot has hinged and domed cover with leaf-ring finial, and leaf-capped scroll spout. Creamer has scrolled helmet mouth. Creamer and sugar have gilt interior. A...

Edwardian sterling silver salver. Made by Charles Stuart Harris & Sons in London in 1908. Round with solid well. Tapering and pierced shoulder with applied swags, vases, and laurel-wreathed heads. Rim has applied Vitruvian scrollwork. Four supports same. A pretty piece in fashionable Regency Revival. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 1/2 x D 12 in. Weight: 30.5 troy ounces. #BQ521

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...

Seto is a pottery tradition established in the 12th century with the aim of reproducing fine Chinese porcelain and tenmoku-style tea bowls—which were hard to come by in Japan at the time. Later, during the Muromachi period, Seto potters established kilns in Mino thus starting the period known as ko-Seto, or “old Seto.” These pieces were distinctive as they were produced in small batches and with great care. Later in Edo, the large-kiln style of production or “ogama” was introduced ushe...

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...

This tall and lovely Hagi chawan rests firmly on a wari kodai or “split foot” pedestal that is unglazed—displaying the coarse rich clay. The crackled milky glaze covers the curves and contours of the bowl, contrasting dramatically between the foot and the clay body. Hagi-ware such as this is part of a tradition stretching back over 400 years and is a high-fired stoneware type of pottery. Hagi-ware is prized for its subdued colors and classical features, especially the glazing, ...

Set of 4 Edwardian sterling silver place card holders. Made by Charles & George Asprey in London, 1906 to 1908. Each: A cast fox head pokes through a horseshoe clip; round and flat base. In leather-bound case with silk and fitted-velvet lining. Perfect for the hunt dinner. Fully marked including date letters 1906 (1), 1907 (1), and 1908 (2). Retailer’s stamp (Asprey). Excellent condition.

Dimensions: H 7/8 x D 1 1/8 in. Case dimensions: H 1 3/4 x W 6 7/8 x D 2 3/8 in. Total weight (silver o...

Going back over 1,300 years, Seto-ware has the distinction of being Japan’s oldest pottery tradition still active today. Made from the rich clay and silica of the region of production, Seto porcelain in particular has been highly prized throughout the history of Japan. The piece shown here can be described as Seto-guro (Black Seto) and is an excellent example of this type of pottery. The writing on the box describes it as being from Muromachi, so well over 400 years old. The form and compositi...

Large Japanese Meiji silver chalice, ca 1890. Oval bowl with irregular rim on tall cylindrical shaft flowing into raised and scalloped foot. Spout hammered ground. Double walled. Applied iris and chrysanthemum flowers and blossoming branches. Wire stem with flower head and bud wrapped around shaft. Mount Fuji-form mono plate (vacant). No cliché left behind. A wonderful ceremonial vessel for the advanced export market. Japanese marks and “Kuhn & Komor / Sterling”. Kuhn & Komor was a Hungari...

Victorian Gothic sterling silver goblet. Made by James Charles Edington in London in 1857. Tall and flared bowl with gilt interior; girdled cylindrical stem on raised foot with studded lobes and scalloped rim. Bowl has four studded and stippled strapwork frames of which two inset with flowers and a third with a medieval horseman galloping through a rocky landscape accompanied by a dog, all in relief. Fourth frame engraved “Hugh Eayrs / Memorial / Trophy”. Eayrs (1894-1940) was president of t...

During the Kamakura period in Japan (1185-1333), a remarkable form of Buddhist sculpture known as the votive Buddha emerged. Commonly referred to as kakebotoke (hanging Buddhas), pieces like this would have been mounted on spherical plaques made of bronze or copper and hung in a Buddhist temple or possibly even in a Shinto shrine. These small-scale sculptures were created to serve as objects of devotion and were often commissioned by wealthy individuals or temples. The Kurakama perio...

Living in Kyoto it is not uncommon to come across beautiful antique tea bowls, however, finding pieces that are in good condition, aesthetically compelling, and with all of the trappings that let you know they were cared for by a devoted cha-jin can be quite challenging. Here we see all three. The shape of this tea bowl is exquisite and something I have not seen before in a Mino piece. The lacquer box, while not the original was undoubtedly custom made for this tea bowl and looks to be 100 - 200...

This small vessel, similar in a shape to a tokkuri, is a fine example of Oni Shino (carbon trap and natural ash glazing) that Tsukigata is so well-known for. Coining the term in the mid-50’s after countless failed experiments—which ultimately culminated in the discovery of this unique style of pottery—“Oni” translates roughly to demon or ogre. Fired at extreme temperatures for days in an anagama, the iron in the clay and in the glaze fuse, drip, and coalesce—while at the same time bl...

Appearing to be from a 2006 excavation site in Tokyo known to be a former residence of the Owari Tokugawa clan—the most senior contingent of the Tokugawa clan that united Japan under one rule—this lovely Mishima tea bowl is one of just two I have seen appear on the Japanese art market over the years. The previous bowl also listed on our site had a large portion reconstructed with a gold repair. This piece meanwhile is entirely intact and even has its original box. Details about t...