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 ...

Tokuriki Tomikichiro
Sanjo Bridge
Date: Likely 1940s-50s.
Size: Tanzaku (pillar) 14.25 x 3 inches.
Signed "Tomi" at lower right.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print on decorative board as originally issued.
Condition: Slight toning near bottom.
Note: This is the only example of this wonderful design that we could locate.

Pair of Victorian Classical sterling silver compotes. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Each: Round solid well and concave sides with pierced leafing scrollwork; raised foot. Rims have applied leafing scrollwork and buds that suggest the influence of Chrysanthemum. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 8743, and director’s letter T (1892-1902). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 2 3/4 x D 9 1/2 in. Total weight: 34 troy ounces. #BY667

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...

Pair of English Neoclassical sterling silver 3-light candelabra. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1928. Each: Two leaf-wrapped arms, each terminating in single socket, wrapped around a central socket. Arms set in single socket mounted to tapering shaft on raised foot. Each socket tapering with detachable bobeche and wax pan. Faceted and reeded. Applied acanthus leaves on sockets and foot. Leaf-and-dart borders. Converts to candlestick. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 212...

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...

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...

American Colonial sterling silver coffeepot. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1916. Conical with capped and scroll-mounted s-scroll spout. Capped double-scroll handle in stained wood. Cover hinged and domed with finial. Holds 2 1/4 pints. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 19189 (first produced in 1916), director’s letter m, volume, and phrase “Reproduction / Original by / Pygan Adams / New London / 1712 1776”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 10 1/2 x W 8 1/2 x D...

Shoda Koho
Moonlit Sea with Clouds - Sepia version
From the Hasegawa Night Scenes series.
Size: Chuban. Approximately 9.875 x 7.125 inches.
Date: 1910-1938.
Koho seal at lower left.
Publisher: Hasegawa Takejiro/Nishinomiya Yosaku
An early marginless edition as originally issued.
"Made in Japan" stamped on bottom left verso.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Back has adhesive residue. A few spots in upper sky.
Note: Examples of thi...

Nursery rhyme-themed sterling silver porringer. Made by Tiffany in New York. Round and curved. Handle solid and curvilinear with goose neck mounts. On handle is low-relief depiction of Old King Cole, who has "called for his pipe and called for his bowl." A dense olden-days scene with no room for the "fiddlers three." There's plenty of room for engraving, though. Fully marked including postwar pattern no. 25352. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 1/2 x W 5 5/8 x D 4 3/8 in. Weight: 6.5 troy...

Kawase Hasui
Dawn Over Lake Shoji
Size: Approximately 8.75 x 7 inches.
Date: 1935. First and only edition.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo for a calendar commissioned by Japan Government Railways. Please see the included original Japanese Government Railways tag.
Reference: Hotei #370.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Margins trimmed. Back has areas of paper residue and slight thinning.
Note: Not many examples of this woodblock print have survive...

George III sterling silver tea caddy. Made by Hester Bateman in London in 1782. Straight oval bowl; cover domed with cast vasiform finial. Engraved garland and swag and ornamental borders. Beading. Beautiful Neoclassicism for a special blend. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 6 1/4 x W 5 1/4 x D 3 1/2 in. Weight: 12.3 troy ounces. #BZ711

This lovely Shino tea bowl fashioned from coarse Mino clay is covered in feldspar glazing, has a classic ferrous abstract painting across the front, and shows nice age—most likely from early to middle Edo.

Shino-ware dates to the Momoyama period when potters were attempting to recreate white porcelain-wares that were being imported from China at the time. Originally they were made in a single-chamber anagama style kilns set into the hillsides. Later, with the advent of large-batc...

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...