Restauration Classical silver gilt box. Made by Jean-Baptiste Claude Odiot in Paris, ca 1820. Rectangular with straight sides and leaf-and-dart base rim. Cover flat and hinged with same as well as leaf-and-flower border. Cover top has central heart engraved with single script letter monogram set in flower wreath; leaf and flower border. Sumptuous Return-of-the-Bourbons luxe from the Ancien Regime do-over years. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and the fineness (950) stamp instituted in 18...

Turn-of-the-century Chantilly-Grand sterling silver 3-piece coffee set. Made by Gorham in Providence. This set comprises coffeepot, creamer, and sugar. Scrolled rims, spread and scrolled foot, and reeded and leaf-capped scroll handles. Two scrolled cartouches of which one vacant and the other engraved with interlaced script monogram. Coffeepot has hinged and domed cover with leaf-ring finial, and leaf-capped scroll spout. Creamer has scrolled helmet mouth. Creamer and sugar have gilt interior. A...

German 800 cast silver figural bird bowl, ca 1910. Swan with plumy wings and tail, and ringed s-scroll neck with graceful head terminating in long and closed bill. Hollow with gilt-washed interior for holding treats. Fully marked including maker’s stamp (Martin Mayer). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 5 1/4 x L 6 3/4 x W 4 1/4 in. Weight: 9 troy ounces. #BY011

Okame, the Goddess of Mirth, is commonly paired with Usobuki in Kyogen theater. This is a rare and old pair of Okame and Usobuki ceramic figures. We have the original receipt from Things Japanese 20 years ago. We are asking the same price as the price on the receipt from 20 years ago. 6 inches (15 cm) tall.

German sterling silver place card holders. This set comprises 8 holders in 3 designs. One holder features an elegant courtly couple executing a cozy minuet. Three holders feature spirited country jiggers. Four holders feature entwined Bacchic babes, and are gilt. Marked “Sterling” and “Germany”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 3/4 x W 1 1/2 x D 1 in. Total weight: 2.7 troy ounces. #BQ399

Midcentury Modern sterling silver box. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with straight tab. Box interior velvet lined. Cover interior gilt. Fully marked including maker’s stamp (Schroth), phrase “Hand Made”, and no. 451. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 1 3/4 x W 9 3/4 x D 6 5/8 in. Gross weight: 28.8 troy ounces. #BZ619

English Modern sterling silver box. Tall and rectangular with curved corners. Cover hinged with gently curved top and double-scroll tab. Box interior cedar-lined with open leather-lined bottom. Cover interior gilt. Worn marks including maker’s stamp for Arthur & John Zimmerman, a Birmingham maker active from the 1920s to 1940s. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 4 x W 6 1/4 x D 4 7/8 in. Gross weight: 33.7 troy ounces. #BV990

Modern Classical sterling silver vase. Made by Sotirio Bulgari in London in 1989. Tapering bowl with faceted and flared rim and gilt interior; short cylindrical stem and round foot with reeded rim. Fully marked including maker’s and retailer’s (“Bulgari”) stamps, and no. BA2633. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 6 x D 3 in. Weight: 7.7 troy ounces. #BZ731

Modern Classical sterling silver vase. Made by Sotirio Bulgari in London in 1989 Tapering bowl with faceted and flared rim and gilt interior; short cylindrical stem and round foot with reeded rim. Fully marked including maker’s and retailer’s (“Bulgari”) stamps, and no. BA2630. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 6 x D 3 in. Weight: 7.6 troy ounces. #BZ730

Pair of George III sterling silver goblets. Made by Henry Chawner in London in 1793. Ovoid bowl on cylindrical stem flowing into raised foot. Bowl underside and foot rim reeded. Bowl interior gilt. Spare Neoclassical form that works on traditional and Modern tables. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 5 7/8 x D 3 1/4 in. Total weight: 14 troy ounces. #BZ791

Edwardian Classical sterling silver coffee set on tray. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1921. This set comprises coffeepot, creamer, and sugar on tray. Each: Fluted ovoid body on same foot. Covered domed with vasiform finial. Handles capped and double-scrolled. Engraved ornament including curvilinear frames inset with leafing scrollwork, diaper, and pendant flowers.

All pieces fully marked including maker’s stamp, director’s letter m, and sequential order nos. 8389 (coffeepot), 8390...

Master of a very difficult technique from the Chinese Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) known in Japanese as Neriage, the potter who created this elegant vase uses extreme precision to combine sheets of differing types of clay, culminating in a unique visual effect. While many of his pieces are ringed with swirls of colors, this one is more modern and subdued. With quite a lot of character, this lovely vase will draw attention without being overpowering.

Born in Nagano, Kosei Matsui (1927-20...

Pair of German 800 silver figural bird bowl, ca 1920. Each: Swan with ovoid body, upturned tail, and scaly-s-scroll neck terminating in in closed bill. Imbricated feathers and hinged plumy wings that can be opened to suggest flight. Hollow gilt-washed interior for holding treats. German marks including Hanau maker’s stamp (Gebrüder Neumann) and American importer’s stamp (Buchholz & Zelt). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 5 1/4 x L 6 3/4 x W 3 1/4 in. Wingspan: 8 1/2 in. Total weight: 1...

German silver figural bird bowl, ca 1920. A swan with s-scroll neck, closed bill, and direct expression. Webbed feet in glide mode. Fine delineation of feathers from scaly neck to downy wing plumes. Hollow gilt-washed interior; frosted glass liner with scalloped rim. Silver marked “Sterling Silver Germany”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 5 1/4 x L 5 1/4 x W 4 in. Weight (silver only): 6 troy ounces. #BZ279

The craftsman who fashioned this piece, the 9th Ohi Chozaimon (1901-1986), is the most widely recognized and most accomplished of the now 11 generations of Ohi potters. Born in Ishikawa Prefecture at the start of the 20th century, he took up the family craft and, at the age of 26, became the head potter. Raku tea bowls made by Ohi 9 are some of the finest you will encounter, comparing favorably to even tea bowls made by the main Raku lineage in Kyoto. The lightness of the clay, the s...

Pair of English Jacobean Revival flagons. Globular body with scroll handle in brown pottery with granulated salt glaze. Gilt sterling silver neck collar and hinged and domed cover with open scrollwork thumb rest as well as raised foot. Chased strapwork embellished with faces and clusters of fruits and vegetables.

One marked George Nathan & Ridley Hayes with Chester assay stamp and 1911 date letter. The other marked Elkington & Co. with Birmingham assay stamp and 1923 date letter. Very good con...

Set of 4 Federal-style sterling silver mint julep cups. Made by Spaulding & Co. (part of Gorham) in Chicago, ca 1920. Each: Straight and gently tapering sides and molded rims. A wonderful way to relax and reflect on the founding years of the Republic. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, no. 351, and phrase “Antique Reproduction / Originals of this Cup Were Made / About 1820 by C. Guiteau / for the Fairfax Family / of Virginia”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 3 1/2 x D 3 in. Total ...

Victorian sterling silver baby cup. Made by George W. Shiebler & Co. in New York, ca 1890. Curved bowl with allover frond and flower repousse on stippled ground. Reeded scroll bracket handle wrapped with applied band decorated with stylized flower head. Gilt-washed interior. Fully marked including maker’s and retailer’s (JE Caldwell) stamps and no. 1306. Very good condition with deep patina.

Dimensions: H 3 3/4 x W 4 1/2 x D 3 1/8 in. Weight: 4.8 troy ounces. #BY965

English Victorian Modern sterling silver smoking box 1885. Rectangular with straight sides. Scroll-bracket handle mounted to central panel between two hinged covers. On one in blue enamel “Cigars”; on other “Cigarettes”. Cedar lined. Felt-lined underside. Fully marked including London assay stamp and maker’s initials “T.W”. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 4 x W 7 3/4 x D 6 1/2 in. Gross weight: 28.3 troy ounces. #BX649

Art Nouveau sterling silver trophy cup. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Urn on tall and spread foot; double-scroll side handles. Chased semi-abstract tendrils terminating in volute scrolls, garlands, and pendant flowers. A fluid, slightly hallucinatory take on traditional ornament. Gilt-washed interior. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 8637, director’s letter T (1892-1902), and volume (3 pints). Excellent condition.

Dimensions: H 7 7/8 x W 10 1/2 x D 6 3/8 in. Weight: 2...

French Belle Epoque Classical 950 silver tea urn, ca 1900. Ovoid with turned stained-wood handles with silver scroll and leaf mounts. Scaly fish spout with tail mount and gaping mouth spout and turned stained wood and silver scroll tap. Double-domed cover with berry finial. Three double-scroll supports with leaf mounts and feet mounted to stepped and stained-wood drum-form blocks. Heating element set in scroll-mounted ring. Twisted fluting and lobing. Vitruvian scroll and leaf borders. Engraved...

George III sterling silver baby cup. Made by Rebecca Emes & Edward Barnard in London in 1816. Campana urn bowl with cast palmette and shell border; raised foot with cast leaf-and-dart border. Cast two-headed snake handle. Gilt-washed interior. Gorgeous Georgian for the newborn who deserves a bit of Regency opulence. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: H 3 3/4 x W 4 1/4 x D 2 3/4 in. Weight: 6 troy ounces. #BZ556

Restauration Classical silver gilt box. Made by Jean-Baptiste Claude Odiot in Paris, ca 1820. Drum form with spread base; cover raised. Cast egg-and-dart and floral rims. Heart engraved with single script letter monogram set in flower wreath on cover top and body. Sumptuous Return-of-the-Bourbons luxe from the Ancien Regime do-over years. Fully marked including maker’s stamp and the fineness (950) stamp instituted in 1819. Very good condition with nice toning.

Dimensions: H 2 1/4 x D 1 5/8 i...

Victorian sterling silver drinks set. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1888. This set comprises pitcher and mug on tray.

Pitcher and mug have curved bodies and split-mounted branch handles. Tray lobed quatrefoil. Applied scroll rims. For fermented refreshment as indicated by the on-message fruiting grapevines in tactile relief. Hefty rusticity wrought from precious metal. Each has engraved script monogram. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, date symbol, and nos. 230 (tray), 1520 (pitcher),...

Edwardian Art Nouveau sterling silver card case. Made by Clark & Sewell in Birmingham in 1906. Rectangular with hinged cover and plain back. On front is one maiden with faraway look, one iris flower, two water lilies, and the sun in the act of setting or rising (direction not indicated). All surrounded by whiplash border. The works! A wonderful period piece. Fully marked. Very good condition with strong definition and deep patina.

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

Nostalgic glass vanity jar with enameled sterling silver cover. Made in London in 1934. Oval jar with straight and fluted sides. Cover has motoring scene: A Victorian lady and two gentlemen tootle along in a turn-of-the-century automobile. A sweet look back. Hallmark includes George V’s silver jubilee mark. Indistinct maker’s mark – possibly Thomas Dalton Pannett & Son, Ltd. Fine condition with strong color.

Dimensions: H 4 1/8 x W 3 x D 2 in. #BN321

Turn-of-the-century Classical sterling silver trophy cup. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Ovoid body, flared mouth, and c-scroll handles with realistic leaf and bud mounts. Spread foot has same applied to four supports. Interior has gilt wash. A fine design with lots of room for engraving. Fully marked including pattern no. 14417 (first produced in 1900) and director’s letter T (1892-1902). Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 10 x W 10 1/2 x D 6 1/2 in. Heavy weight: 54.4 troy ounces. #...

Victorian Classical sterling silver coffee and tea set. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1885. This set comprises 5 pieces: Coffeepot, teapot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl. Each: Round body with floral repousse between chased and engraved leaf-and-dart and ogee borders; beaded rims. Handles high looping and covers domed with reeded finial. Coffeepot and teapot have s-scroll spout with applied stylized ornament. Coffeepot neck has engraved stippled zigzag border with incised trefoils.

Fully m...

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...

George III sterling silver goblet. Made by Hester Bateman in London in 1785. Ovoid bowl on upward tapering stem flowing into raised foot. Beaded and zigzag borders. Spare Georgian Neoclassicism by a collectible maker. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 6 3/8 x D 3 1/4 in. Weight: 5.7 troy ounces. #BY307

Austrian Classical gilt-washed 800 silver box, ca 1875. Ovoid and bellied on plain inset foot. Cover hinged and domed with cast figural finial: A little girl sits cross-legged and barefoot and rests her hand on the back of a hungry animal while spooning sustenance into its mouth. Engraved ornament: Leafing rondels inset with heads alternating with same shaped frames (vacant) on engine-turned border. Shoulder has leaf-and-dart border and cover top leaf-and-patera border. Fully marked including ...

George III sterling silver baby cup. Made by William Bennett in London 1811. Flared rim with low-relief fruiting grapevine border; leaf border at bottom. Cast handle in form of two snakes with entwined scaly bodies and bead-eyed heads. Gilt-washed interior. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: H 3 3/8 x W 4 1/4 x D 2 7/8 in. Weight: 5 troy ounces. #BY768

Japanese Modern silver box on stand, ca 1930. Rectangular with curved corners. Box has straight sides and cover top is gently raised and has applied gilt medallion with dramatic dragon in low relief. Box and cover interior lined with stained-wood. Stand has wide and tapering shoulder and flat well border with open stained-wood bottom. Marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: Box: H 2 1/2 x W 6 1/2 x D 4 3/4 in. Stand: H 7/8 x W 8 1/8 x D 6 3/8 in. #BX437

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

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 ...

Using local materials and traditional methods, the creator of this work Masahiko Imanishi, has brought a distinctively modern interpretation to the classical form of the tsutsu chawan. At the same time, he somehow manages to maintain the simple rusticity that Tanba-ware is renowned for. Stretching back over 800 years, Tanba is counted as one of Japan’s 6 ancient kiln sites and is known for making large pots with red ferrous clay and natural ash glazes with a distinctive greenish tinge. More re...

Victorian Classical sterling silver coffee and tea set. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. This set comprises coffeepot, teapot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl.

Each: Bellied bowl on concave foot ring. Covers raised with cast bud finial (pot covers hinged). Teapot, coffeepot, and creamer have high-looping handle. Sugar has c-scroll side handles. All handles have stylized volute scroll and dart mounts. Spare with repousse rinceaux band. Fully marked including maker’s stamp, pattern no. 1982, ...

George V sterling silver trophy cup. Made by Garrard & Co. Ltd in London in 1923. Girdled urn with leaf-capped double-scroll flying side handles and knopped support; stepped and domed foot. Cover domed with vasiform finial. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 8 1/4 x W 6 7/8 x D 3 1/2 in. Weight: 14.6 troy ounces. #BY763

George V sterling silver bun warmer. Made by Roberts & Belk Ltd in Sheffield in 1927. Egg-form. Cover has flat oval top with radiating facets and lobed bands; hinges have vasiform mounts. Bracket end handles. Perpendicular tab has ring inset with ball finial. Four tapering hoof supports. Pierced detachable tray set in solid detachable tray. Reeding and beading. For a fun Downton Abbey-style buffet breakfast. Fully marked. Excellent condition.

Overall dimensions: H 8 3/8 x W 13 1/8 x D 9 3/4 in...

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...

Engraved Hampton sterling silver coffee and tea set. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1920. This set comprises 8 pieces: Hot water kettle on stand, coffeepot, teapot, hot milk pot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl on tray.

Rectilinear with tapering sides, concave corners, and stepped rim. Covers domed (pot covers hinged). Handles scroll bracket. Coffeepot and teapot spouts faceted and s-form; milk pot has short u-spout and creamer has lip spout. Tray rectilinear with concave corners and han...

Fairfax sterling silver coffee and tea set on tray. Made by Durham, which was part of Gorham, in Concord, ca 1926. This set comprises 7 pieces: Hot water kettle on stand, coffeepot, teapot, creamer, sugar, and waste bowl on tray.

Each: Chamfered. Rectilinear and tapering body on same foot. Handles scroll bracket. Covers gently raised with soft faceting (pot covers hinged). Finials chamfered with bead. Spouts faceted except for creamer, which has u-form spout. Tray rectangular with molded rim, ...

Ca 1940 A heavy, solid sterling choker and bracelet by Jensen USA designer, Laurence Foss( 1920-2014). It features hand applied, raised sterling leaves with beading. The choker weighs 63 grams, is approximately 16" in length and just shy of 1/2" in width. Both the bracelet and choker are marked with the LF logo, sterling, 450. The bracelet weighs 29 grams and is 7"x 1/2".

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...

Pair of George III sterling silver gravy boats. Made by William Bond in Dublin in 1794. Each: Ovoid with helmet mouth and gadrooned rim. Leaf-capped double-scroll handle mounted to scrolled end. Three scallop-shell mounted leaf supports. Engraved armorial. Gorgeous Georgian Neoclassicism from across the Irish Sea. Fully marked. Very good condition with nice patina.

Overall dimensions: H 6 3/4 x W 8 3/4 x D 4 3/4 in. Total weight: 39.7 troy ounces. #BW160

George V sterling silver picture frame. Made by Docker & Burn Ltd in Birmingham in 1923. Rectangular window in flat cutout curvilinear shaped surround. A simplified postwar Edwardian design. With glass, silk lining, and wood back and hinged easel support. Very good condition. Wear and warping to wood.

Dimensions: Frame: H 10 1/2 x W 8 1/2 in. Window: H 8 x W 6 in. #BY909

Pair of George III sterling silver tureens. Made by William Pitts in London in 1785. Each: Ovoid body with upturned ends on oval foot; high looping tapering and leaf-mounted end handles. Cover raised with leaf-capped vasiform finial in pointille and pendant flower surround as well as engraved armorial. Beading. Elegant Georgian Neoclassicism. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: H 6 x W 9 3/4 x D 4 1/2 in. Total weight: 42.4 troy ounces. #BY312

George V sterling silver picture frame. Made by Ernest Wilfred Sanders & Henry Arthur Mackenzie in Birmingham in 1933. Rectangular window with curvilinear upper corners in plain and flat rectangular surround with wide lower rail. With glass, silk lining, and stained wood back and hinged easel support. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: Frame: H 10 1/2 x W 8 in. Window: H 8 7/8 x W 6 7/8 in. #BX905

George V sterling silver trophy cup. Made by Charles & Richard Comyns in London in 1922. Urn with ovoid bottom on raised and stepped foot; leaf-capped high-looping double-scroll side handles. Cover stepped and domed with cast flame finial. Traditional form with lots of room for engraving. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Overall dimensions: H 13 3/4 x W 11 1/4 x D 6 1/4 in. Weight: 37.7 troy ounces. #BY557

George V sterling silver cigar box. Made by Barnard & Sons, Ltd in London in 1930. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged and with tapering tab; top flap with engine-turned linear pattern bordered by wraparound lines between wavy lines. Interior wood lined and partitioned. Underside leather lined. Fully marked. Very good condition with a few minor pings.

Large dimensions: H 4 1/4 x W 11 x D 6 1/2 in. Gross weight: 54.5 troy ounces. #BX512

Set of 12 Modern Gothic sterling silver demitasse holders. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, 1927. Each holder: Drum-form holder with stepped rims. Each saucer: Deep plain well and canted rim. Engraved interlaced arcade with stylized pendant flowers and fleurs de lys (fleurs de lys pierced on holders). A hearkening back to the Aesthetic Movement a half century before though stylistically compatible with 1920s Art Deco. With: Cream porcelain liner with gilt mouth rim bands.

Fully marked inclu...

George V sterling silver picture frame. Made by William Comyns in London in 1912. Oval window in rectangular surround. Window border entwined with entwined with engraved and overlapping open ribbon with bows at top and bottom. A sweet way to “tie up” a special memory for posterity. With glass, silk lining, and velvet back with hinged easel support for portrait (vertical) display. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: Frame: H 8 1/4 x W 5 3/4 in. Window: H 6 7/8 x W 4 3/8 in. #BY19...

Victorian glass decanter with sterling silver mounts. Made by William & George Sissons in Sheffield in 1876. Cylindrical with spread base; etched fruiting grapevines. Sterling silver collar with branch-form scroll-handle mounted at base to beaded gridle. Cover domed and hinged with cast finial in figure of reclining nude ephebe holding a jug. Cover and collar have chased and applied flowers in irregularly curved frames on stippled ground. Shell-form spout with horned and hirsute satyr’s head. ...

Decidedly masculine in character with straight sculpted edges, a rich palette of color, and a calm steadiness in the hand; this tea bowl was crafted by one of Japan’s great masters, a Mashiko potter by the name of Takauchi Shugo.

A native of Tokyo, Takauchi (b. 1937) took the well-established path of working for a company after graduating from university and it was not until a number of years later—upon visiting the town of Mashiko and being inspired by the works of artists such...

George V sterling silver covered urn. Made by Lionel Alfred Chrichton in London in 1916. Girdled urn with half strapwork on stepped domed foot; leaf-capped s-scroll sides handles. Cover double domed with vasiform finial and radiating strapwork. Strapwork chsed and engraved on stippled ground. A poignant tribute to the lasting popularity of Edwardian Neoclassicism in the dark days of World War I. Fully marked. Very good condition.

Dimensions: H 11 1/2 x W 10 1/2 x D 6 in. Heavy weight: 50.8 tro...

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...

A mesmerizing piece of ceramic art, this exquisite tenmoku tea bowl embodies the rich traditions of Japanese craftsmanship that are inspired by over a millennia of Chinese artistry. With its distinctive deep red glaze, reminiscent of brilliant sunsets, red chili peppers, and festival colors; its presence creates an enchanting visual allure. The bowl's form is elegantly simple, with a gently flared rim that invites contemplation. Crafted with precision and care, this piece reflects th...

With a masterfully applied black Raku glaze and a noticeable aesthetic of austerity and stillness, this piece is what is refereed to in Japanese as an “utsushi” or what we might call in English a “tribute piece.” Such pieces are typically made by all Raku potters, regardless of the kiln and tradition, and seek to emulate famous works from the early masters over 400 years ago—in this case, a tea bowl created by the brother of the second Kichizaemon, Tanaka Somi, born sometim...

The term “tenmoku” (heavens eye) refers both to a shape of tea bowl popularized in the Song Dynasty dating back almost 1,000 years, and also to a style of glaze that these pieces are renowned for. In the case of tea bowls themselves, the troughs often have darker coloration with radiating colored rays and, depending on the style, often resemble the iris of a human eye. In the case of the glaze, the individual oil spots that appear on the walls of the vessel can sometime also rese...

Fin-de-siecle Classical sterling silver loving cup. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Urn-form with bellied bottom. Three leaf-capped and mounted scroll handles. In relief are men and women, nude with legs merging into leafing scrolls, their embraces abetted by cherubic cup bearers. Subdued eroticism on stippled ground with fruiting grapevines. Reeded foot with stylized egg-and-dart rim and three leaf-and-scroll mounted paw supports. Gilt-washed interior.

At top engraved presentation: “Samu...