Catalog (321)

A very fine early 19th century oil on board by Henry James Richter (1772-1857), entitled "The New Gown," signed and dated "H. Richter 1823" lower right. Ornately detailed, and a very competently executed example of the realism of its era. Original period frame. Image size approximately 32 inches x 26 inches.

A Very Good Still Life with Flowers Set Within a Marble Plinth, English School, 19th Century. Image size approximately 30 inches x 25 inches.

From our World Handicrafts Collection (ex-Asia), a handsome inlaid wooden box from Oaxaca Mexico, very attractively executed with dark brown inlay upon a lighter straw colored base wood. The box is fairly light, not quite balsa wood weight but light nevertheless, and is fragrant on the inside where the exposed surface of the hewn wood has not been varnished. Regrettably, we have forgotten the name of this interesting wood. In any event, a lovely gift item.

Size 8 7/8 inches long, 3 1/2 ...

From our World Handicrafts Collection (ex-Asia), a handsome leather-wrapped wooden chest from Cusco, Peru, with chocolate colored leather sheets that have been hand-worked with stylized Inca motifs, overlaid onto a wooden body and secured with brass studs. The inside is lined with a red velvet/ felt type material. A charming authentic handicraft from the indigenous population and a lovely gift item.

Size: 9 inches long, 6 1/2 inches tall, 6 1/4 inches deep.

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a very striking contemporary Burmese writing box done in the "shwei-zawa" technique, with gold leaf floral designs known as "chupan" set against a shiny black lacquer ground, all done to very striking and dramatic effect. For those unfamiliar with this ancient Southeast Asian craft that began with the Thai in the seventeenth century, and is still practiced today mainly by the Burmese, Sylvia Fraser -Lu gives a simplified but useful explanation in Burmese Craft...

From our Chinese Polychrome Collection, a good pair of hand-colored steel engravings circa 1843, drawn by Thomas Allom and engraved by W. Wetherhead and W.H. Capone. The first engraving is titled "Sowing Rice at Soo-Chow-Foo," and the second piece is titled "Temple of Buddha, Canton" both of which hail from the famous four volume 1840's series called "China Illustrated."

Thomas Allom (1804-1872) was a notable architect and topographical illustrator active during the mid-19th century, ...

From our European Collection, a very good 17th century copper plate engraving, most likely English circa 1650-1700, depicting a Chinese official accompanied by his entourage, with subjects kowtowing in the foreground and a crowd of spectators to the rear.

Size and Condition: 7 inches by 5 1/4 inches, very well preserved with only slight creasing.

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a lovely handmade silk on cotton vintage table runner from Laos, using tan colored silk woven into geometric designs with magenta and blue/green colored accents. The runner is shown only half size as we have folded it to fit within the confines of our display boards, but it is actually quite long and very well-suited for long dinner tables or sideboards. It can also be displayed either framed or unframed as a wall hanging. Acquired in the late 1980's, we can b...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, an inscribed lacquerware covered vessel from the famed U Aung Myint workshop in Myinkaba Village, Pagan Burma (Myanmar), from which the British Museum has commissioned pieces for display in London. See Isaacs and Burton, Visions from the Golden Land, Burma and the Art of Lacquer page 222-223. We had the honor, privilege, and education of watching artisans in this famous lacquer workshop creating modern masterpieces in the yun style, an extremely labor intensiv...

From our Chinese Polychrome Collection, a high quality Rose Medallion plate, 19th century either Tongzhi Period (1862-1874) or Guangxu Period (1875-1908). Executed in the typical palette of pinks, blues, greens, yellows, whites and gilt with four individual cartouches: Two contain various figures usually representing scenes from either The Romance of the Western Chamber or The Dream of Red Mansions, the other two contain birds and foliage. All are set against a ground of flowering tendrils and g...

From our Japanese Collection, a good set of three large ceremonial lacquer sake shallow bowls in graduated sizes, Showa Period, very handsomely executed with raised gold and black designs of figures set against a red lacquer ground. It is quite possible this set is older than we give it credit for, perhaps dating from late Meiji through to the Taisho Period (1912-1926) as several very similar sets for sale on Trocadero are dated, but with these ceremonial lacquer pieces that are totally unused ...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a truly delightful little enameled silver box from Jaipur, Rajasthan (India), featuring a very attractively painted elephant in regal attire, executed in turquoise blue against a purplish blue background, with floral motifs in green and gold around the borders and on the sides, all executed upon high grade silver.

There is a plethora of arts and crafts throughout the Rajasthan region, and the different cities there tend to have a few art forms in p...

From our World Handicrafts Collection (Ex-Asia), an interesting hand-made wool prayer rug, probably Persian but it could possibly come from the Caucasus region as well. The rug features a main central medallion in rust colored ground, two minaret motifs towards the top, and geometrical motifs on the borders. The workmanship seems to be a combination of natural mineral pigments and synthetic dyes.

Size and Condition: 60 inches long, 39 inches wide. This rug has seen a fair amount of we...

An excellent and absolutely essential pictorial reference book for anybody interested in Burmese wares. From lacquerware to carved statuary to offering vessels of all kinds, this book has over 180 excellent full color photos of all things Burmese. In our candid opinion, it's not enough of a reason to purchase an antique merely for the sake of a free book, but any client already seriously contemplating a purchase can enjoy this as a free extra.

Many collectors, especially beginners, do n...

A very interesting reference book that is more a specialist's reference on a compilation of certain individual topics than a general survey book on Burmese wares in general. There are 15 different essays here dealing with a broad range of topics such as Burmese Buddhist Sculpture in the British Museum; Court Dress of the Shan States; Burmese Votive Tablets; Problems and Issues Concerning the Preservation of Wooden Monasteries in Burma; Burmese Arts and Crafts in the Scherman Collection (German...

A contemporary but very attractive Tibetan ewer, crafted of thin, hand-worked sheets of white metal that appear to be some type of nickel/aluminum amalgam, decorated with deep repousse and chasing techniques forming the decorative bands along the shoulder, neck, lid, and upper base of vessel, with well-formed makara shaped spout and handle, all atop a splayed footed base. This is a contemporary piece exactly 15 years old, but a very attractive ethnic handicraft.

Size and Condition: 12 1/2...

From our Chinese Blue and White Collection, a fine Qianlong Period (1736-1795) sauce tureen base of rectangular form with chamfered corners, depicting a gentleman with ladies on a fenced terrace pavilion along with a flowering tree, surrounded by an intricate border design of cash diaper motifs, key frets, and flower sprigs, all executed in deep blue upon a body of dense 18th century export porcelain.

This particular example is quite unusual due to its subject matter. While in various inc...

From our Chinese Blue and White Collection, a very fine Qianlong Period (1736-1795), blue and white sauce tureen base of rectangular form with chamfered corners, depicting a river scene with fenced pagodas, people, bridges, and boats on water, with a meticulously intricate border design of cash diaper motifs, butterflies, key frets, and other details, all executed in an attractive blue of varying shades upon a body of dense 18th century export porcelain.

Qianlong Period export ware such a...

From our Fine Arts and Americana Collection, a very fine example of late 19th - early 20th century intaglio cut crystal, depicting a floral wreath on one side with floating flowers on the other side, “jeweled beveling” to the rim and foot, and all very well-cut and elegantly made. A nice addition for fin de siecle crystal and glassworks collectors. This piece is actually a lot prettier than our pictures seem to capture: We find crystal pieces like this very difficult to photograph well.

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a very good pair of contemporary Indian miniature paintings of caparisoned elephants, executed in a palette that contrasts rich red with a lavish use of gilt, along with grey, white, and black. Often painted with single-haired sable brushes or their equivalent, some of the details here are so fine they are difficult to appreciate without a jeweler's loop. Even our 6x magnification camera lens does not fully capture all the detail, we can only see it all...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a very attractive 5 piece Pagan-style lacquer hsun-ok (offering vessel) from the famed U Aung Myint workshop in Myinkaba Village, Pagan Burma (Myanmar), from which the British Museum has commissioned pieces for display in London. See Isaacs and Burton, Visions from the Golden Land, Burma and the Art of Lacquer page 222-223. We had the honor, privilege, and education of watching artisans in this famous lacquer workshop creating modern masterpieces in the yun st...

From our Shipwreck Ceramics Collection, a charming blanc de chine Guanyin from the Vung Tau Shipwreck circa 1690-1700 (Kangxi Period), one of only 30 ever recovered from this wreck and in this sense quite rare. The Vung Tau Shipwreck refers to a cargo ship of Chinese ceramics that sank in the waters of the Can Doa Islands, nearby to Vung Tao Vietnam between 1690 and 1700, where it had briefly stopped to re-supply on its way to Batavia (Jakarta Indonesia). The wreck, which consisted mostly of ...

From our World Handicrafts Collection (ex-Asia), a lovely original still life painting in oil, cheerfully executed in bold primary colors depicting a kitchen cupboard full of various sundries. Quintessentially Mexican, this pretty painting comes from Oaxaca Mexico.

Size: Framed dimensions are 19 inches wide, 24 inches tall. Unframed image size is 10 3/4 inches wide, 15 ½ inches tall.

A very good late 19th - early 20th century Tibetan ewer, crafted of thin, hand-worked sheets of what is probably some type of brass/bronze amalgam that has acquired a rich chocolate patina over time, with deep repousse and chasing techniques forming the decorative bands along the shoulder, neck, and lid of vessel, a well-formed makara shaped spout and handle, all atop a splayed footed base. Overall a very nice example with legitimate age, good presence, and very decorative.

Size and Condi...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a very fine contemporary Indian miniature painting, executed in a colorful but subdued palette of red, green, purple, and blue, with a lavish use of gilt highlights and detailing.

Ordinarily we prefer only the antique miniatures, but we thought this one was so well-done that we made an exception. Often painted with single-haired sable brushes or their equivalent, some of the details here are so fine they are difficult to appreciate without a jewele...

From our Japanese Collection, a good kutani baluster-shaped jar and cover, Meiji Period (1868-1912), executed in traditional kutani palette of iron-red, green, yellow, and gilt highlights, depicting a continuous scene of figures gathered around the circumference of the piece. A small but charming example of genuine 19th century kutani.

Size and condition: 7 1/4 inches tall, 5 inches at the shoulder. Some very minor rubbing to the gilt commensurate with age, and an incidental hair line on ...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a large and very attractive Indonesian tribal mask, crafted from a dark hardwood we think is either teak or some other rosewood variant, inlaid with mother of pearl or shell. They craft a lot of masks in different versions in Bali, but the more frequently encountered version you see there is a much smaller but heavily painted multicolor style, that we tend to find a bit gaudy. We selected this style from Central Java for its austere but artful presence, achiev...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a contemporary but very beautiful Burmese shwei-zawa wall hanging from Pagan, Burma, executed in brilliant gold leaf against a shiny black lacquer ground. The scene depicted is most likely something from the Jataka Tales (the stories of the previous lives of the Buddha), though we are not positive which exact scene is being portrayed. Nevertheless, this is a very fine and strikingly attractive example, and for those who understand how shwei-zawa work is crea...

From our European Collection, a good set of Egermann Bohemian Crystal wine glasses, hand-cut, wheel-engraved, and stained in ruby colored crystal.

Egermann Crystal was founded in 1832 by Friedrich Egermann of Novy Bor, and is recognized as being one of the earliest pioneers of the cut, engraved, stained crystal making process from the Czech Republic that has come to be known as "Bohemian Crystal or Bohemian Glass." Egermann's main competitor is the Moser Company, but Moser actually ...

From our Chinese Blue and White Collection, a good ginger jar with "double shu" design bestowing "double happiness," late 19th century, either Tongzhi (1862-1874) or Guangxu Period (1875-1908).

Jars such as this current example were often given as gifts containing foodstuffs with the lids glued shut. As a result, many lids were broken upon opening and subsequently lost to history, which is why so many are seen without their original lids. It's always nice to find an example with its origin...

From our Fine Arts and Americana Collection, an elegant Haviland porcelain soup tureen, late 19th century circa 1888-1896, decorated with floating flowers in “Indian purple,” with molded floral applique and a generous use of gilding.

The history of Haviland porcelain is a very interesting story of American entrepreneurship, sibling rivalry, and French protest....We encourage our clientele to read about this fascinating history on the web. Many people mistakenly assume that Haviland w...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a superb contemporary Indian miniature painting, executed in a very rich and intricately colored palette of burgundy, pink, dark green, mint green, blue green, mustard, peach, light blue, red, brown, black, white, blue-grey, and gilt. Ordinarily we prefer only the antique miniatures, but we thought this one was so well-done that we made an exception. In fact, in terms of proficiency of the painting here, we would stack this particular one up against t...

From our World Handicrafts Collection (ex-Asia), a very cheery and colorful original oil painting on canvas of a woman in traditional garb gathering flowers. From the lovely city of Oaxaca Mexico, this charming scene in vibrant colors captures well, that certain relaxed slice of life from one of the more idyllic and unhurried parts of the country.

Size: Framed dimensions are 25 3/4 inches wide, 30 inches tall. Unframed image size is 15 ½ inches wide, 19 ½ inches tall.

From our Chinese Polychrome Collection, a very good Qianlong Period (1736-1795) Famille Rose porcelain dish, depicting a domestic scene of a husband, wife, and child sitting upon a bench, while their servant plays fetch with the family dog, all well-painted and better than average for typical export ware. The skill of the painter is evidenced here by amongst other things, the skillful use of shading in the blue, green, and pink enamels of the folds of the clothing to create depth and texture. Th...

From our World Handicrafts Collection (Ex-Asia), a very interesting Afghani hand-made tribal rug decorated with American military helicopter and B-52 bomber motifs. This piece was acquired about 16 months after the American military campaign in Afghanistan was launched in response to the 911 attacks, and in a fascinating example of art imitating life, the villager who crafted this rug chose to fashion it in this manner, reflecting the military aircraft he/she no doubt saw in the sky day after d...

From our Chinese Blue and White Collection, an unusually fine and early Qianlong Period (1736-1795) Nanking meat platter, depicting a willow tree and scholar's table objects amidst a flowered outcropping as the central design, surrounded by an elaborate border of butterflies, buddhist symbols, scrolls, and floral motifs.

Like our similarly shaped Qianlong Period Tureen Base Item # 959327 (Sold), this piece is top quality in terms of "Nanking Ware" (not to be confused with Nanking Cargo Sh...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a large and classic 19th century Burmese Hsun-ok from Pagan, of well- known and documented form, constructed of wood that is first lacquered in black, and then covered in successive layers of cinnabar-colored lacquer called hinthabada. Over time, through use and handling, the cinnabar lacquer wears off to reveal the black lacquer base underneath as seen on this example, in an effect likened to the negoro effect seen in Japanese lacquerware.

These old,...

From our World Handicrafts Collection (ex-Asia), a handsome Caucasus accent rug, early 20th century, featuring wool on wool construction using red, two different blues, dark green, black, peach, orange and gray. A very nice unpretentious example with good character. Though there is a fairly wide spectrum of colors used, the main feeling is mostly of red, gray, and blue, and the overall palette is quite subdued, making this piece very useable in a variety of different decors.

Size and Condi...

From our Fine Arts and Americana Collection, a fine dore bronze wall sconce, late 19th to early 20th century, fully gilded with four separate candlestick holders cast in floral motif. We are not positive whether this is French fin de siecle, or American Art Nouveau circa 1905-1915, but in any event an elegant piece. We probably didn’t do this piece proper justice in the way we photographed it, but at night with 4 candles aflame, it is a very striking and evocative piece.

Size and con...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a superbly carved sandalwood buddha from the city of Jasailmer in the Rajasthan region of India. This buddha sits in padmasana (interlocking lotus position) upon a double lotus base while displaying vitarka mudra with the right hand, and holding what is probably a kalasa pot in the left hand.

When we travel to collect pieces, we shop with a very discerning eye. There is a vast multitude of shlocky handicrafts around that no doubt, please the casual...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a good Thai repousse silver box with burlwood lining, depicting the Thai and Burmese kings in battle during the sixteenth century. Sourced directly from Chiang Mai Thailand in 1990, this is a substantial box of good quality silver. The exterior has been allowed to patinate for 20 years and has taken on the usual dark grey patina typical for sterling silver, but the interior is completely pristine as it has never actually been used. A new owner may prefer to ...

From our Fine Arts and Americana Collection, a fine original watercolor painting from Miraflores Peru, depicting a beguiling image of a single solitary front door. Lending itself to all sorts of interpretation, we ordinarily do not gravitate towards watercolor as an artistic medium, but this unusual piece had a certain draw to it. In terms of technical merit, it is also very well done for watercolor, especially the shadowing. From an unknown but obviously talented local artist, we have had this...

From our Fine Arts and Americana Collection, a very good and sizeable original oil on canvas seascape from Peruvian artist Fernando Giron of Miraflores Peru. Executed in a warm earth tone palette of various browns, sea-green, pale yellow, pale orange, and white, depicting crashing waves upon a beach at sunset with gulls in the foreground, this is a very nicely painted and evocative piece.

Giron is apparently not well-known yet beyond the Miraflores / Lima art circle, but this could change...

From our Chinese Monochrome Collection, a fine and large lacquered carved wood stand, late 19th - early 20th century, elegantly constructed with four chilong / serpentine legs and carved with floral motifs.

Size and Condition: 30 inches tall, 22 inches across the widest span of the legs, 15 inches in diameter for the circular top. There is some minor scuffing to the wood and lacquer, but this is all commensurate with age and use and the stand is in excellent overall condition with no re...

From our European Collection, a good late 19th / early 20th century cast iron mirror, probably English. A charming but unpretentious piece that can complement many different styles of decor.

Size and Condition: 28 1/4 inches tall, 16 inches wide. Excellent condition, no repairs or restoration and the glass appears to be original: Some general wear to the ironwork commensurate with age as seen in the second close-up, but this only adds to the charm.

From our World Handicrafts Collection (ex-Asia), a fine vintage Afghani tribal rug, wool on wool handmade construction, using exclusively natural pigments / mineral dyes. A modestly sized but very well-executed and elegant example that works well in either a rustic or formal decor.

Size and Condition: 57 inches long, 39 inches wide. There are some random expected thread pulls and light wear commensurate with age and use, but overall excellent condition.

From our European Porcelain Collection, a lovely three-piece Dresden ensemble, 19th century, very finely painted in the Baroque style with a central scene of figures involved in musical pursuits, all executed in polychrome enamels against a deep cobalt blue ground surrounded by lavish gilding.

Size and Condition: The main tray is 12 3/8 inches wide, 9 5/8 inches deep. The cosmetics box and ring stand are each approximately 3 inches tall and 3 inches wide. Some minor rubbing to the gilding...

From our Chinese Blue and White Collection, a rare Kangxi Period (1662-1722) porcelain dish depicting a stylized version of an earlier Ming Dynasty kraakware design, featuring an eight-sided buddhist wheel or star in the center medallion, surrounded by ogival panels of buddhist emblems, auspicious symbols, and swatiska motifs in the outer border.

Within the vast gamut of Kangxi blue and white wares in general, there is a much smaller sub-category of Kangxi wares that were made in imitatio...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a superbly carved sandalwood Ganesh from the city of Jasailmer in the Rajasthan region of India. Ganesh, the Hindu God of Wisdom, is revered by the entire religion regardless of sect, and is depicted here atop a tiered double lotus throne, in one of his typical incarnations with his easily recognizable elephant head, regal headdress, and accompanied by a snake and his rat transports.

When we travel to collect pieces, we shop with a very discerning ...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a fine original Burmese watercolor of a solitary young monk at prayer. From memory we think the scene depicts one of the many alcoves at the massive Ananda Temple complex in Pagan, though in all candor we cannot be entirely certain. In any event, it is a stirring and highly evocative portrayal which in its simplicity, captures a deep and genuine sense of reverence and serenity. Much of this comes from something as subtle yet masterful as the artist's depictio...

From our World Handicrafts Collection (ex-Asia), an extremely fine silver filigree boat from Cusco Peru, modeled after a Spanish Armada ship. The filigree here is exceptionally fine and intricate. The amount of painstaking and meticulous work that goes into crafting filigree of this scope and detail is really quite astounding, and rivals much of the best Indian filigree work we have seen. Cusco is a city on the outskirts of the famous Machu Pichu ruins, and has a wonderful culture of magnificen...

From our Chinese Blue and White Collection, an interesting so-called "Scholar's Examination Dish,” Kangxi Period (1662-1722), decorated in a slightly greyish underglaze blue, depicting a leaping carp juxtaposed against a fierce dragon clutching at the flaming pearl of wisdom, with wave shaped aquatic motifs on the border, and a square fu character on the reverse.

We have not researched the symbolism of this particular piece ourselves, but we are told by a colleague that the leaping carp...

From our Fine Arts and Americana Collection, a fine pastel still life painting of a flower vase by Luis Bodes of Alhambra Spain. Executed in pretty blues, lime green, orange, grey and white, this is an elegant little painting that we had richly framed as we feel it befits the piece. Those who understand painting well, and in particular, those who appreciate the limitations of working in pastel, are familiar with the challenges in achieving a sophisticated aesthetic when working in this medium. ...

From our Japanese Collection, a very good, large, and older pair of Japanese cloisonne vases, late Edo to early Meiji Period, probably 1850-1875, executed with floral motifs including wisteria, peony, and chrysanthemum, along with small birds and butterflies, all set against a turquoise blue ground upon a lobed, melon-shaped form.

This is an attractive and quite sizable pair of early cloisonne that illustrates the evolution of this art form just prior to the Golden Age, when the Japanese ...

From our Chinese Blue and White Collection, a good Ming Dynasty kraakware dish, late Wanli Period circa 1600-1620, of well-known and documented form, executed in Border VIII style with a central bird some scholars opine is either a magpie or a duck, sitting upon a lotus pond outcropping and encircled by a ten-point buddhist star, further encircled by ten ogival panels of buddhist symbols in the outer border, all executed in a slightly greyish blue on a barbed-form dish with slightly upturned lip...

From our Fine Arts and Americana Collection, a nice set of vintage American nightstands dating from the 1950's, constructed of solid hardwood with Carpathian Elm burl veneers.

Not much is known about the Bethlehem Furniture Manufacturing Corp. of Red Lion Pennsylvania that crafted this set, but they were apparently a small niche manufacturer active from the late 19th century up until the mid 20th century. This particular set was acquired new in the 1950's, and we acquired it from the ori...

From our Southeast Asian Collection, a good carved, gilded, and painted Monk, 19th century, either Burmese or Thai in origin. Of tall slender form, rustically carved, it's a charming and peaceful rendition of a monk carrying an alms bowl, which is a very quintessential image in Southeast Asian iconography.

Size and Condition: 21 inches tall, fine condition with just some light rubbing to the paint and gilding.

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a vibrant and highly decorative Indonesian batik in the form of a village scene with figures, from Yogyjakarta (Indonesia), executed in rich turquoise, black, brown, straw color, and other earth tones, and signed by the artist.

Batik is one of many methodologies of fabric decoration employed in Indonesia's long and rich textile tradition. Those unfamiliar with the process will not immediately recognize how the designs are rendered, but it is essentially ...

From our Early Chinese Collection, a rare earthenware Buddhist offering vessel dating from either the Song or Yuan Dynasty (960-1368 AD). This offering vessel is one of a group of several highly obscure and esoteric pottery pieces hailing from Yunnan Province in Southwestern China. The formal scholarship on these pieces is unfortunately thin at best, and we are currently aware of only one publication addressing these pieces at all, which is Michael Teller's Offering Vessels of Yunnan. As Teller ...

From our European Collection, a beautiful hexafoil Egermann Bohemian Crystal compote, a one-of-a kind artist signed original by Mledenov. This piece is hand-cut, wheel-engraved, and stained in ruby colored crystal. The general feel of this piece is classic old-world Egermann, and it pays tribute to the established Bohemian Crystal design motifs, but it is nevertheless an original and in a very interesting and elegant hexafoil form.

Egermann Crystal was founded in 1832 by Friedrich Ege...