German 800 silver playing card box, ca 1920. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with chamfered tab; top flat with two glazed windows faced with a King of Hearts and Queen of Spades. Interior wood-lined and partitioned with ribbon tabs. Leather-lined bottom. With cards. Perfect for a quiet evening at home. Marks include maker’s stamp HB (probably Hermann Bauer). Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: H 1 1/2 x W 5 5/8 x D 4 1/2 in. Gross weight (box only): 11 troy ounces. #BZ291 ...

Edwardian Classical gilt sterling silver jewelry box. Made by Ahrendt & Kautzman in Newark, ca 1910. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with tapering tab and gently curved top. Acid-etched leafing scroll borders. Velvet-lined interior. Fully marked including maker’s and retailer’s (Theodore B. Starr) stamps and no. 671. Very good condition with nice toning.

Dimensions: H 3 1/8 x W 8 3/8 x D 5 1/2 in. Gross weight: 25.3 troy ounces. #BX772

The poem accompanying the artwork on this antique scroll reads: Fishing little trout—Precious drops of dew glisten—Flowing with the blossoms—The mountains and rivers of spring ( Rengetsu, age 78 ). A rather later and mature work by Rengetsu, this piece was created right as Edo ended and Meiji began, marking a major turning point in Japanese history and culture.

Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875) was born into a Samurai family but soon after adopted by the Ōtagaki fam...

A stylized grass motif painted in ferrous pigment across each side and on the inside of this mukozuke serving dish marks it as being more likely produced in Karatsu as opposed to having come out of a Mino kiln. Though very similar styles and techniques were utilized during the late 16th or early 17th C. when this would have been produced; the color, distribution of glaze, and patterning suggest Karatsu. While at one time this would have been part of a set of 5 pieces, very few sets s...

American Edwardian 3-piece carving set, ca 1910. This set comprises knife, fork, and sharpener. Each: Ribbed and irregular ebonized horn handle; sterling silver mounts with low-relief leafing scrollwork and asymmetrical scrolled frame (vacant); end has engraved monogram. Blade, shank, and rod stainless steel. Marked “Sterling”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: Knife: H 14 in. Fork: 10 1/2 in. Sharpener: H 13 in. #BY531

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, ...

Japanese Jubako, traditional stacked lacquerware food boxes, represent not only culinary refinement but also an important aspect of Japanese food culture. These elegantly tiered containers, often adorned with intricate designs and vibrant colors, are integral to the presentation of special occasion meals such as New Year’s celebrations and formal picnics. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, Jubako boxes like the one featured here showcase the artistry of Japanese lacquerwa...

A beautiful and very old Hagi tea bowl; showing signs of long use and appreciation. The gold repairs add to the overall composition and highlight the important role this piece played in someone’s tea practice. Though still functional to be used as a ceremonial implement, this would fit much better as a treasured display object.

In excellent condition this tea bowl is 5.1 inches in diameter at its widest point (13cm), and stands 3.1 inches tall (8cm). It comes with a pe...

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 ...

Born the second son of Ryônyû, the 10th Raku Kichizaemon Tannyû took over the family kiln in 1811 at the age of 16 and served until his retirement and subsequent handing on of the title of Kichizaemon to his son-in-law Keinyû some 34 years later. Retaining many of the unique stylistic innovations of his father including his clay trimming technique, Tannyû went on to establish several new family kilns and to produce wares for both 10th and 11th Tokugawa Lords. The piece seen here is a classi...

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.

A beautiful old Kyo-ware tea bowl slightly elongated on one end producing an interesting and unique effect. The collector who furnished the box labeled it as being by the legendary potter Ninsei (17th C.). Though the potter’s mark suggests this could be the case, there is no way to confirm for certain other than by its age and undeniably elegant craftsmanship. Believing it to be quite precious, the previous owner bestowed it with the poetic name "Ibitsu" which means "warped" or "cu...

George IV sterling silver and agate fruit set for 12 with 24 pieces. Made by Francis Higgins in London in 1833. This set comprises 12 forks and 12 knives. Tapering rectilinear half-fluted handles in mottled grey and brown agate. Sterling silver blades and 4-tined shanks. Regency Classicism for a special dinner party. Fully marked. Excellent condition.

Height: Fork: 6 1/8 in. Knife: 7 5/8 in. Case dimensions: H 2 3/8 x W 13 3/4 x D 9 1/2 in. #BW456

When the founder of the Urasenke style of tea ceremony, Senso Soshitsu (1622 -1697) was invited to Kanazawa as the lord of the tea ceremony for the powerful Kaga lords in 1666, the first Chozaemon came with him and established Ohi-yaki ware in Kanazawa. Chozaemon had been the chief apprentice for the Raku family in Kyoto and took with him many of the principles and ideas associated with Raku-ware. Since those auspicious beginnings, Ohi-ware has held a high place in the world of tea ceremony desp...

Oribe is a visual style named after the late-16th-century tea master Furuta Oribe (1544-1615). Typically, black or green glazes are applied to the bodies of these works and light-colored windows are created using feldspar. These high-contrast areas then act as a canvas upon which abstract, minimalistic, and often naturalistic themes are painted.

As can be seen here, this piece is of the green variety and looks to be from the mid-to-early Edo period as can be determined ...

George V sterling silver sugar caster. Made by Asprey & Co. in London in 1911. Baluster with applied shell-mounted garland. Foot domed with chased leaf and flower border. Cover threaded and domed with ornamental piercing and vasiform finial. Pretty Edwardian Georgian. Fully marked. Excellent condition.

Dimensions: H 8 1/4 x D 3 1/4 in. Heavy weight: 10.5 troy ounces. #BW660

English gilt sterling silver & agate fruit set. This set comprises 24 pieces: 12 knives and 12 forks. Each: Tapering and chamfered rectilinear handle in mottled and translucent agate. Colors vary. Gilt sterling silver blades with 2 armorials (knives) and 4-tined shanks with 1 armorial (forks); stippled and scrolled mount. In stained-wood case with fitted velvet.

Fully marked with London assay stamp. Eight knives have William Theobalds maker’s stamp and 1833 date letter. Four knives have Wil...