Ceramics decorated by Zen monks are seldom seen and this piece is no exception. Two red enamel characters are boldly brushed in red enamel conveying the strong bond between Zen and the tea ceremony. The bowl is inscribed and named Taste of Zen (Zenmi 禅味), and dates to the 1970s, when Seki Bokuō 関牧翁 (1903 – 1991) was well into his abbotship at Tenryū-ji, one of most important, and certainly most beautiful temples in Kyoto. The bowl itself is by the well-known hagi potter, Hara Kiyok...

A fine Japanese incense burner, made of wood with pierced gilt copper lid, the interior with copper lining. On a black lacquer ground slightly raised decoration showing a landscape with rockwork and trees in different gold lacquer techniques. Condition: please look at the photos carefully, traces of age and usage, few small lacquer losses, rim with two cracks, lid slightly distorted. Dimension: c. 8.4 cm high, c. 4.8 cm long and wide.

An excellent Palace jar from the Kangxi period. A top quality design and in an ovoid shape with ribbed middle sections. Three lines in brown making the jar very sophisticated. The scenery showing two windows with a four clewed dragon and two windows with a carps. An excellent rare jar in a quality that even very few museums can show from their collections. The jar has been in the Wayland Wieslander Collection. Condition: The rim has a polished area (probably a restored ship). And the bottom has ...

The warrior’s armor and helmet, samurai sword, spears, banners and paper carps (later cloth) in the sky are all tools used to showcase boy’s day in Japan. This tradition started early Edo period (1603-1868) by samurai families wishing their son’s good health and studies to be honorable samurai.

This set is made in Kyoto, Japan and is called “Kyo-armor”. Kyoto had been the capital of Japan for over 1000 years. The culture there was developed to serve the best for the emperor...

A very thinly potted small blue and white Ming dynasty saucer. It is so thinly potted that if held against the light, we can see through it. The centre of the saucer has a flower that looks like a lotus pod in a double circle. The porcelain is slightly grayish in colour. It has the Cheng Hua (1465-1487) six character mark and of the period.

There are minor firing faults with frittings and chips along the rim and base. No hair line crack. Generally in good condition.

The mea...

Early American Chippendale period tall blanket chest. 18th century. Size: 46 1/2 inches high x 41 inches wide x 19 1/8 inches deep. New England origin with a lift top above two faux drawer fronts over three real drawers, and retaining the original snipe hinges. Fancy cut-scroll bracket base and apron. Brass bail handles are replacements. A rare and early tall blanket chest in a blonde finish.

A female dancer dressed in massive and splendid Noh attire. The painting is attributed to Iwasa Matabei (1578–1650), a renowned Japanese painter who is often considered originating ukiyo-e genre painting. As is often the case with this artist, these two paintings do not bear his signature or seal, however the depiction of the figures with rich cheeks and long jaws shows typical expression of people of high social rank during medieval periods, which he exaggerated the expression was originated ...

A male dancer dressed in massive and splendid Noh attire. The painting is attributed to Iwasa Matabei (1578–1650), a renowned Japanese painter who is often considered originating ukiyo-e genre painting. As is often the case with this artist, these two paintings do not bear his signature or seal, however the depiction of the figures with rich cheeks and long jaws shows typical expression of people of high social rank during medieval periods, which he exaggerated the expression was originated fr...

A stunning pair of sake cups depicting monkeys by the famous Kutani potter Matsumoto Saiichi 松本佐一 (b. 1930), using his signature technique, porcelain with underglaze gold leaf. Title: Sake Cups (sakazuki 坏) Medium: porcelain with underglaze gold leaf and overglaze enamel Size: Wider: 3.2 x 8.5 cm and Taller: 5.9 x 5.4 cm Signature in enamel on the bottom of both pieces: Saiichi (佐一) Date: Heisei Period, 2003 for 2004 Condition: no flaws: no cracks or r...

A seated bronze figure of Buddha in the earth-touching gesture. The Buddha sits on a platform with openwork scroll patterns. The face is round with facial features done in an free and unusual manner that give a tranquil, meditative expression.

Period: Burma 17th/18th Century

Size: Height = 11.8 cm, Diameter of base: 6.8 cm

Condition: Good. There is a tubular opening at the back of the platform perhaps for a canopy.

An extremely finely and delicately painted eggshell porcelain bowl by Wang Yijun. The poem on the reverse side reads "Wen ji qi wu xiang feng nian, fu gui rong hua ren ping an. Wang Yijun zuo" which can translate as "Practice the sword while hearing roosters (meaning work hard) and enjoy the affluence of the year; wish people wealth, prosperity and safety. Made by Wang Yijun"The seal mark to the base reads "Jingdezhen Zuo" - Made in Jingdezhen. Wang Yijun (1904 - 1989)was born in Anhui, China. A...

A wonderful American folk art portrait of a Methodist minister painted by Ammi Phillips (1788–1865). The distinguished gentleman is sitting at a table, with his hand holding a pair of spectacles and resting on a Methodist hymnal. The finely rendered depiction of the large dominating figure with dark clothing emphasizes the gravitas of the sitter.

The painting is 32 5/8 inches by 27 1/4 inches sight size, and 37 7/8 inches by 32 3/4 inches framed size. The painting is in overall excellent co...

Rare and large Burmese bronze seated crowned Buddha, or sometimes known as 'King Buddha', wearing diadem-crowns and ornaments of kings instead of ordinary monk's robes.

Crowned Buddha represents the Buddha's role as a universal sovereign.

Age: Burma, Shan Period, 17th Century
Measurement: Height 49.8 C.M. / Width 17.2 C.M.
Condition: Nice condition overall (some expected degradation due to its age). Please refer to the enlargement photos for more details.
Shipme...

There is no visible image of God in Japanese Shinto religion. For this reason, people find the spirit of God in their surroundings, especially in nature. In the noh play “Takasago”, an old couple is seen together on the beach of Takasago (today’s Hyogo prefecture) sweeping pine needles under the trees. The old man Jo and old woman Uba are the spirits of the pine trees that were grown in Takasago and Sumiyoshi. The two trees are located far away but they are together with their spirits. ...

A fine Arita blue & white porcelain flower vase to be mounted on a wall, kakehana. 18th century.

The flower vase is heavily moulded with a leaping Chinese Lion or karashishi in a landscape of rocks and Tree Peonies, a classic subject in Japanese art known as “Botan-ni-Shishi”, an auspicious subject.

This old kakehana was manufactured in Arita in the mid Edo period, probably for the home market.

Approximately 16.7 cm high. A tiny glaze chip on the mouth-rim,...

Japanese antique Funa Tansu (merchant's safe), all made of very heavy quarter sawn Keyaki (Zelkova) wood. The door opens to 3 interior drawers also with Keyaki wood fronts (interior of each drawer made with Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood, wooden bracing on the bottom, heavy iron hardware including double locks on the outer doors and each of the three interior drawers has a large lock as well, two handles on top of safe, 2 iron reinforced holes at the bottom of each side to allow the safe to be...

Fine Chinese Yuan / Ming Dynasty Celadon Glazed Stoneware Bowl

This attractively-shaped bowl was made in the 13th - 14th century during the Yuan (AD 1279 - 1368) or early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). It is particularly "heavily-potted" and coated in quite a thick finely-crackled celadon glaze save for the unglazed stacking ring in its centre and its heavy foot. The glaze has a very pleasant "silky-smooth" feel to it. This high-fired type of ware is variously described as stoneware or porcelai...

A wild boar kōgo by famous Kyoto potter Imai Masayuki 今井政之 (1930-2023). Decoration is a stylized version of the ancient Chinese character for wild boar. Masayuki used his famous inlaid colored clay technique in producing this piece. Imai Masayuki and the late Miyashita Zenji are considered the two masters of the colored clay technique in Japan. Title: Inlaid Zodiac Wild Boar Incense Container (Zōgan kanshi i kōgo 象嵌干支亥香盒) Colored and inlaid stoneware, 3.8 cm high a...