A pair of rare 19th C Chinese hand carved hardwood, possibly Hong Mu wood, Scholars desk trays in a large lily pad leaf design with flower heads. Each being slightly different, one has a bird’s head and the other a nice protruding stem between the flower heads, they were made to be displayed together. These were finished with a mix of beeswax and a few other natural concoctions the Chinese used to seal the finish and give it a great mellow sheen. The beauty of the surfaces is that wheneve...

DESCRIPTION: A classic and quite old pair of hand carved South American wood stirrups. The Guacho of Argentina, the Morochucos of Peru and the Hauso of Chile all preferred large wooden "shoes" for use as stirrups rather than the more prevalent iron stirrup. These stirrups cover the whole front of the foot, which can be an advantage when riding through tall brush. This pair has good age and obvious usage; we estimate them to date from the early 1800's. Each shoe is carved from a single piece...

Over the years we have taken a special interest in Raku pottery, especially in pieces made by the original Raku family (16 generations) and by a branch kiln known as Tamamizu—started by the illegitimate son of the potter Ichinyū, whose work we see here. Approximately 350 years old, this piece displays a beautiful red glaze and has a shape known as “tsutsu” with high walls and a slender form making it ideal for keeping in heat during the cold winter months. Antique gold repairs...

DESCRIPTION: A skillfully lacquered suzuri-bako (writing box) from the Meiji Period, early 1900’s. The lid of the rectangular box is decorated with a takamakie floral design in gold, silver and shu (a hue of red-orange) lacquer on a black ro-iro ground. The interior of the lid and box are sprinkled in a nashiji cloud motif. This suzuri-bako is a complete set, fitted with the original water dropper and inkstone and its original kiri (paulownia) wood box with inscription. Excellent conditio...

A rare finely carved cylindrical bamboo incense box depicting Scholars amongst rocks and pine trees in a mountain landscape. This item was made in China in the late Qing period - the characters carved into the top read "Qing Guangxu Nian Zhi" which translates as "Made in the Guangxu reign Qing dynasty" (1875-1908). Condition - one 2cm age related crack at the top - otherwise excellent with no damages or losses and no repairs or restoration. 22.7cm (8.8inches) high.

清晚੏...

A fine and very rare pair of monochrome rouleau shaped porcelain vases with apple green lustrous glaze; the base and interior are glazed white. There are old collector's labels to the base. These items were made in China, in the late 17th or early 18th Century, during the reign of the Kangxi emperor (1662-1722). Condition - excellent - no damages and no restoration. 13cm (5inches)high.

清康熙 苹果绿棒槌瓶一对

瓶底和瓶身内部施白釉。两个瓶...

Folk Art Portrait by American Artist, attributed to Sheldon Peck (1797-1868). This Portrait was purchased at a North Carolina auction from the Larew Collection. The 19th century oil on canvas portrait of a gentleman was said to be Thomas Johnston from Concord, NC (Sept. 1850). It was marked on the original canvas (relined) bought in Davie County. It is mounted in a mahogany veneer frame with yellow pine backing. Canvas 29" 24" and the Frame is 38" x 33". The portrait was restored in 1973 by Hen...

The only authentic 19th Century Korean shaman paintings offered for sale. Sublimely rendered here is the spirit of divine response, Kameung Sillyeong. There are many 20th century reproductions of these types of paintings. Authentic Joseon Dynasty examples like this exist only in museums. And even in museums, a pair like this is very rare. You can discern them by the material and quality, such as fine hand-woven silk and mineral pigments that give warmth and depth and are vivid but not garish lik...

A pair small Chinese porcelain jars with lids, each decorated with two foo dogs among peony flowers and scrolls in the "wucai" palette with underglaze blue. Bases without glaze. Rare to find a pair with matching lids and with so fresh colors. Including two later reticulated wooden stands. Dimension with lid: 14.3 cm high, on stand: 17.3 cm high. Condition: one cover with glued area and rim chips. One jarlet with minor kiln dust and the other jar with negligible rim fritting. The wood stands with...

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...

Description:

A wood water basin was nicely carved in shape of a lotus leaf with a lotus pond.
It was preserved in very good condition by nice brownish patina.
Some of the seeds in the lotus pond were still movable when some were sticked but nothing is missing.
It was a charming and very rare piece by this type.
Most of the old wood pieces were made as brush pots in relief carving.
This piece was carved in delicate workmanship to imitate the lotus leaf by thin wall a...

A box for keeping incense – kogo – decorated with a carriage used by court nobles and members of the Imperial family of the past in dense gold dust sprinkle on a black lacquer background. The sky sprinkled with clouds of nashiji. Insides with dense nashiji. The bottom section decorated with a rock surrounded by bamboo in gold togidashi and kao of tea master Hisada Soya. Silver rims.

Tiny signature in gold lacquer on the bottom: Gaho.

The kogo was made for the tea master Hisada So...

Circa 1880, Chinese red cinnabar circular box with stand. The box is presented on a carved wood stand having several coats of cinnabar lacquer, giving it the appearance of a solid carved cinnabar stand. Extremely well done and deeply carved, the scene depicts a well known Chinese story about Kuan Ti’s defense of Lin Bang's wife before the advance of Hsian Yu. Please note the beautifully carved horse. In excellent condition, the box including stand measures 5.5" diameter x 5.5" high. The b...

Very rare and fine, museum quality 19th century Straits Chinese peranakan sirih or tobacco box. Silver with gilded decoration details. A wonderful and outstanding work of silver art. D : 9 cm.

Fine Pair of Tall Chinese Han Dynasty Burnished Pottery Vases

This fine, impressive and very rare pair of pottery vases was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8) or possibly a little earlier. They are of a particularly pleasing and elegant form, the wide bodies rising up from the flat bases, then constricting into long slender necks and finally opening up into fairly wide mouths. They are quite "heavily-potted" and made from a dense fine-grained dark grey pottery, the surface o...

Beautiful Japanese Wajima lacquer stand with gold maki-e painting on a nashi-ji (pear skin) background. The designs are scrolling vines with stylized chrysanthemums and paulonias, which are the crests of the emperor and empress. The style of sparkling nashiji lacquer work and the theme were popular in the Taisho period (1912-1926) to the beginning of the Showa era, sometime after the return of the throne to the emperor.

The stand was made for a Tokonoma as a base for a flower arrangement...

A large rosewood, huanghuali brush pot, bitong of simple cylindrical form with thick walls and the base with an inset plug. The wood grain has particularly nice patterns, with a few 'ghost eyes', and a wonderful deep honey-brown patina. H 16 x 16,4 cm Diameter Late Ming/ early Qing Dynasty. Condition: good with a couple of chips at the lower part and thin hairline at the bottom.

Over the years we have taken a special interest in Raku-ware and especially in works produced by the Tamamizu kiln, such as the 300+ year old ceremonial tea bowl seen here. The first in this line of potters was Yahē (1662 - 1722), an illegitimate son of Kichizaemon Ichinyu (1615 - 1768) who studied under his father and then left to open his own kiln in the village of Tamamizu (known today as Ide-cho). Though he is the first potter of this branch, he is sometimes referred to as Tamam...