Japanese Mugiwara pottery emerged in the Mino region of Japan during the Momoyama period in the late 16th century. It is renowned for its distinctive straw-rope patterns etched into or painted on its surfaces that typically contains hues of indigo, mustard, hazel, ochre, and sometimes greens. The creation of Mugiwara pottery involves a process of hand-building or wheel-throwing clay pieces—typically serving dishes, vases, and teaware items—and then meticulously applying a straw-r...

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...

Edwardian Art Nouveau sterling silver epergne. Made by James Dixon & Sons in Sheffield in 1905. Large round and shallow basket set in round mount with shell-and-scroll apron surmounting fluted and knopped baluster on raised and bellied base. Two scrolling and whiplash arms, each supporting ring inset with smaller same basket. Four scrolling stretchers mounted to central pendant knops and same supports on quatrefoil feet. Pierced loose and fluid leaves and scrollwork. Gadrooned rims. Fully marke...

The poem etched on the side of this exceptional piece reads: "As a pastime ― bringing clumsy, fragile things to sell ― at Uruma Market ― how lonely!"  A very significant poem as it conveys a bit of irony; for the Edo period nun who inscribed this poem would go on to create a legacy of art, beauty, and philosophy that endures even today. The poem also suggests that this is one of her earlier works that would have been produced before she became renowned throughout Japan for her...

An often overlooked implement in tea ceremony, here we have the humble kogo (incense box) with an image of a sleek and flowing dragon. Commonly thought to represent strength, freedom, good luck, and magic, dragons are a popular theme in the artwork across Eastern cultures. Interesting to note, the dragon here is portrayed in the Korean style with four claws, with dragons in China typically having five claws and dragons in Japan typically having three. Fashioned by one of the few great female Jap...

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.

This piece is quite unique for its brown color which may have been produced using a copper glaze under very specific conditions. Typical o...

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....

The classic sterling silver Louvre bowl. Made by Georg Jensen in Copenhagen. Round and curved; Overhanding rim interspersed with scallops. Open support comprising alternating vertical leaves and tendrils. Raised foot. Visible hand hammering. Designed ca 1910, it reflects the master’s love of nature. So-called the Louvre bowl because an example in that museum’s collection. Fully marked including maker’s stamp (1945-77) and no. 19A. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 6 7/8 x D 8 in. Weight...

Traditional sterling silver water pitcher. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1938. Gently curved body with helmet mouth, high-looping handle, and round and stepped foot. Ample with nice heft. Holds 4 1/2 pints. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 22625 (first produced in 1938), director’s letter m (1907-47), and volume. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 10 1/2 x W 8 3/4 x D 5 1/4 in. Weight: 32.7 troy ounces. #BZ758

Pair of Georgian-style sterling silver candlesticks. Made by Currier & Roby in New York, ca 1920. Each: Faceted and tapering shaft with knops and flanges on raised foot in concave circle set in square base. Spool socket with detachable bobeche. Gadrooning and reeding. Fully marked including maker’s mark and no. 2628. Excellent condition.

Dimensions: H 10 x W 4 5/8 x D 4 5/8 in. Total weight:36 troy ounces. #BZ690

Modern Classical sterling silver box. Made by Ferdinand Richard Wilm in Berlin, ca 1930. Rectangular with wraparound reeded sides; cover flat and hinged with paneled top. Fully marked including maker’s stamp. Excellent condition.

Dimensions: H 7/8 x W 6 x D 3 7/8 in. Weight: 13 troy ounces. #BZ772

Edwardian Classical sterling silver and glass picture frame. Made by Hawkes in Corning, New York, ca 1910. Oval window with reeded sterling silver border in rectilinear glass surround with curved top. alternating reeded and diaper lines and four clear rondels with acid-etched flower baskets and cornucopia. With glass, silk lining, and silk back with hinged easel support. Silver marked “Sterling”. Glass unmarked. Very good condition with strong definition.

Dimensions: Frame: H 11 1/4 x W 7 ...

Ornamental sterling silver letter opener. Made by Georg Jensen in Denmark, ca 1925. Looped tendril handle with seed and leaf terminal. Shaft terminates in flat stylized bud to which is mounted blade with curved sides. Early marks including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 122, Copenhagen Three Tower stamp dated 1925, and Christian F. Heise assayer’s stamp (1904-32). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 5 5/8 x W 7/8 x D 3/8 in. #BZ699

Modern Classical sterling silver bowl. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1924. Conical with reeded rim, short and straight support, and raised round foot. Acid-etched curvilinear borders with fleurs de lys. Support has scroll-and-dart ornament alternating with squares (vacant). Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 20393G (first produced in 1924), and director’s letter m. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 5 5/8 x D 9 in. Weight: 24 troy ounces. #BZ706

Pair of Danish Modern sterling silver compotes. Made by Poul Petersen in Canada, ca 1940. Each: Lilypad bowl with lobed rim and upturned back; flying c-scroll handle with split bud mounts and bud and seed terminal. Open support comprising large vertical leaves and turned-down grape bunches; domed foot. Visible hand hammering. A great piece by the legendary Danish-born silversmith who was Georg Jensen’s apprentice and son-in-law. He married the boss’ daughter Inger in 1922. The couple emigrat...

Pair of Danish Modern sterling silver compotes. Made by Poul Petersen in Canada, ca 1940. Each: Lilypad bowl with lobed rim and upturned back; flying c-scroll handle with applied tendril and grape bunch. Open support comprising large vertical leaves and turned-down small leaves; domed foot. Visible hand hammering. A great piece by the legendary Danish-born silversmith who was Georg Jensen’s apprentice and son-in-law. He married the boss’ daughter Inger in 1922. The couple emigrated to Canada...

Danish Modern sterling silver box. Made by Georg Jensen in Copenhagen. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged and raised with flat border. Square corner supports. Fully marked including maker’s (1945-77) and designer’s (Harald Nielsen) stamps, and no. 827. Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: H 7/8 x W 8 1/8 x D 3 1/2 in. Heavy weight: 17.5 troy ounces. #BZ773

Modern sterling silver box. Made by Georg Jensen in Copenhagen. Rectangular; straight sides bisected by wraparound rectilinear band. Corner bracket supports. Cover flat and hinged with stepped rim. Midcentury Danish design by Harald Nielsen. Fully marked including Georg Jensen & Wendel maker’s stamp (ca 1945-51), which was limited to wares sold in Copenhagen, and designer’s stamp. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 1/2 x W 6 1/4 x D 3 1/4 in. Weight: 15 troy ounces. #BZ775