Conceived by 20th century master ceramicist Kawai Kanjiro—here an abstract depiction of flowers is used to adorn an exquisite “henko” shaped vase. The glaze used is known as “tetsu-yu” for its use of iron compounds to achieve this distinctive look. Though many pieces by Kanjiro remain today, this exact combination of style, shape, and glazing is uncommon, making this a must-have work for serious collectors. Interestingly, though it may likely not have been intentional, the abstract sym...
The is a very rare large Koi vase created by a master. The koi are large and much finer than most ever seen on this style of vase. The vase is 9 1/2 tall and 11 1/4 inches wide. Rims are silver with an old Jungin stamp. Condition of this vase is excellent.
A great hammered silver vase with small knobs around the shoulders, soft hammer marks covering the surface of the vase.
Signed on the bottom with a chiseled signature by the artist, Shiro, together with Mitsukoshi stamp, Silver and Sterling.
Enclosed in the original tomobako, the original box, inscribed Silver vase on the exterior of the lid and signed and sealed on the inside.
Size: H 20 x W 22 cm.
Condition: perfect, with good silver oxidation patina.
**** Sekiya Shiro (1907-1994) was b...
This piece is made of copper glaze called "oribe". At first , it is covered with feldspar and painted with iron and next it is covered with copper glaze. It is firing into burning charcoal in the kiln, so there are complicated atmosphere, oxidation and reduction.
The oxidation atmosphere makes the copper glaze red, the reduction atmosphere makes it green and the mixture atmosphere makes complicated color.
Size 6.0 cm (D) 5.7cm (H)
Accessary : wooden box signed by the potter.
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...
A Large and Impressive Hand Painted Dutch Delft Vase. Eight reserves; four large ones of a bird and four lesser ones of a stag. Label on the base says "De Oude Moriaans Hoult (The Old Moors Head) Holland Delft (the mark) 1759". This refers to the potters mark, which was first used in 1759 (the Old Moors Head dates from 1648). Dimensions; 16" high, approximately 4.5 pounds in weight. Normal wear for Delft.
A wild boar kōgo by famous Kyoto potter Imai Masayuki 今井政之 (b. 1930). 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 and...
Rare Chinese Sui Dynasty Glazed & Painted Pottery Horse & Rider (AD 581 - 618) (Ex. Roger Moss Collection)
This rare and finely-detailed model of a horse and rider was made during the Sui Dynasty. The horse stands upright with head straight ahead but slightly lowered. The dignitary sits upright upon the horse with his hands raised and wears elaborate robes and headgear. It is made from a relatively highly-fired buff-coloured pottery. It is coated in a finely-crackled straw-coloured glaze tha...
Offered is an extremely rare, C1920s, Federal agency building sign denoting offices for the Bureau For Colored Children. It is quite likely that this 100+ year old sign remains the only one in existence today.
Given that this sign is clearly segregating services for African-American children despite the fact that this was a federal agency, one can only hypothesize that this sign was placed on the exterior of a federal building in a state that endorsed and enforced segregation.
A quick hist...
"Best work ever in English on Chinese funerary figures. . " New Reference Book:
Celestial Horses and Long Sleeve Dancers: The David W. Dewey Collection of Ancient Chinese Tomb Sculpture by
Robert D. Jacobsen (English Edition).
Whereas many books on this subject will repeatedly describe and illustrate the same ancient Chinese pottery objects on display in public museums, this outstanding book contains fine photographs of items from a most impressive private collection: items not previousl...
Geese and Reeds Painting (Noando) on fine silk mounted on luxurious gold silk by Yang Ki Hun aka Seokyeon (1843-1897) from Pyeongyang, signed Seokyeon. Yang Ki Hun's signature 'boneless' style (painting without outlines, using ink washes) beautifully captures light and shade. The literal meaning of 'noando' is reed and geese painting, but it is a play on words, as 'no' means both reed and old, and 'an' means both geese and comfort ('do' means painting). So 'noan' can mean 'reed and geese' or 'ol...
Beautifully Framed Zen Buddhist Painting of a Pair of Cranes Flying Past the Moon by the Famous Korean Jeju Island Monk, Ko Chang Nyul aka Jung Kwang Sunim aka the Mad Monk (1935-2002). The third photo here is from a prominent dealer's "sale" going on right now on Jung Kwang paintings, where you will see the prices are several times higher than mine. This other gallery has been in business for over forty years and has sold to many of the major museums. A google search of Jung Kwang Mad Monk will...
A very rare piece of hand wrought sterling silver modernist jewelry by the San Francisco Metalsmith, Harry Dixon.
This unusual massive cuff bracelet has a large spinach green and yellow striated raised agate. Very three dimensional.
Measures 5 1/2" around with an opening of 1 1/8". Does not have much flexibilty. Measures 2 7/8" wide at the front. Weighs 105 gr.
Marked with a stamped Harry Dixon and Sterling.
Has some minor surface scratches and a little tarnish.
Excellent workmans...
A rare sterling silver modernist necklace by Phyllis Sklar, American Mid Century jeweler. This piece has a sterling wire overlay on a darkened, oxidized surface adorned with an oval moonstone cabochon, three small pearls, a green bezel set stone, (maybe jade) and dangles of pale green and dark red bezel set cabochons.
Measures 16 1/2" long with a 1 3/4" drop in the center. Has the stylized 'p' hallmark, phyllis and sterling on the back.
Interesting contrast between the oxidized and shiny s...
A fine, circa 1700-1730, English walnut writing chest strung with boxwood and crossbanded. The three-drawer superstructure has a fold flap above two short and two long drawers on a molded plinth and small compressed bun feet. In excellent antique condition, it measures 36ʺ wide × 18.25ʺ deep × 35ʺ high.
Cambridge Glass Company made Rose Point from 1936-53. There are no chips or cracks in the glass. Thanks for looking.
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...
This is the only calligraphy by Kim Eung Won aka Soho (1855-1921) we have ever seen offered for sale. His skill was so revered that the prince Daewongun paid Kim Eung Won to paint many of the works for which the prince took credit. Ink on paper. Mount: 73 x 15 inches (185.5 x 38 cm), Calligraphy: 51 x 12 inches (130 x 30 cm).