Catalog (321)

From our Early Chinese Collection, a fine and large Ming Dynasty lead-glazed pottery ridge (roof) tile, 15th-16th century, Hongzhi through Jiajing Period (1488-1566), depicting a guardian-demon ferociously modeled with bulging eyes, protruding fangs, pointed horns, thick musculature, and standing in defensive posture astride a cloud-swirl with fists clenched around what would have been a weapon made of wood or iron, now since rotted away and lost to time. This cloud-swirl between the demon and t...

From our Japanese Collection, a fine and large eight-sided imari charger, Meiji Period 1868-1912, depicting a flower basket beautifully executed in traditional palette of iron red, orange, blue, and gilt on a white porcelain body, and as a lovely extra on this particular piece, the addition of Kakiemon-style greenish turquoise enamel highlights in the corners and tastefully interspersed throughout the design. Floral and cloud motifs appear on the reverse, along with 6 spur marks from the kiln s...

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 Southeast Asia Collection, a lacquerware masterpiece 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 intensive craft where ...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a large and fine vintage thangka, either Tibetan or Nepalese, executed in a subdued yet very elegant palette emphasizing substantial gold use, along with blue, coral, gray, brown, taupe, white, and light green, all painted in an unusually meticulous and finely detailed fashion that is almost more like satsuma workmanship than typical thangka painting. For those who enjoy the look and spirituality conveyed in thangka paintings but do not care for the gaudy...

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 Southeast Asia Collection, a small but fine Burmese ink on palm leaf sutra with thayo embossed wood covers, depicting Buddha under the Bodhi Tree of Enlightenment flanked by two adorants in the center medallion, then encircled by disciples and zoomorphic entities in the surrounding images. The reverse side contains sutra writings in Burmese script, not yet translated. Overall workmanship is quite fine with great attention to detail, reflecting the devotion, reverence, and skill of the c...

From our European Collection, a fine and elegant 19th century bronze tazza, probably French, featuring well-cast leonine head motifs with twisted serpentine handles, supported upon a tapering circular pedestal base with some very attractive and realistically cast floral motifs. This piece has acquired a nice chocolate-brown patina across most of the surfaces.

Size and Condition: 13 1/4 inches across handles, 7 inches tall. Some minor scratches to the serving surface of the tazza tray, a...

From our European Collection, a good late 19th century bronze figural inkwell, probably French.

Size and Condition: 9 inches wide, 5 1/4 inches tall, 6 1/4 inches deep. Some verdigris to the patina, the interior glass ink container liner has a small crack, and the inkwell lid does not fully close, though this can easily remedied with a competent repair. Still fine overall condition.

From our European Collection, a fine and very ornate cast iron letter holder, late 19th century, most likely French though possibly Italian or even Spanish, crisply cast with cherubs and other figures and very intricate openwork.

Size and Condition: 14 3/4 inches wide, 14 1/2 inches tall, 4 3/4 inches deep when opened. Excellent condition. Some minor rubbing on the periphery, and also on the facial extremities of some of the figures as shown in the photographs, but overall the wear is q...

From our European Collection, a fine and very ornate cast iron plant stand, late 19th century, most likely French though possibly Spanish, featuring highly detailed and animated figures gracing the corners, along with some very intricate openwork on the legs and stand surfaces.

Size and Condition: 30 inches tall, 15 inches wide, 15 inches deep. Some minor and general wear commensurate with age but really no notable flaws. This item was apparently very well-kept, and comes from the estat...

From our European Collection, a very elegant late 19th / early 20th century bronze lamp, probably French or English, featuring trumpeting cherubs and well-cast floral motifs on a tapering base. A very well-balanced and dignified piece with a good patina.

Size and Condition: 28 inches tall, 16 inches wide across lamp shade. There is some general but minor wear to the bronze commensurate with age and handling, one cherub is missing its trumpet, and some tears on the interior of the lamp...

From our European Collection, a very elegant late 19th / early 20th century bronze lamp, probably French or English, featuring a well-cast swan atop a lumbering turtle. This is the second of two fine lamps we recently acquired from the estate of a former New York based antique dealer. Please note the close-ups of the swan and the turtle: these are both quite finely executed.

Size and Condition: 24 inches tall, 14 inches wide. Superlative condition: there are really no condition issue...

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 Southeast Asia Collection, a superb Indonesian ebony wood carving of Ruana, expertly rendered with such animation and ferocity that the character looks almost demon-like, so much so that we actually find this particular piece a bit creepy.....But that is ultimately testimony to the tremendous skill of the carver.

For those unfamiliar with the differences between ebony wood and the other woods in the hardwood / rosewood family, ebony wood is especially dense and heavy and very d...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a superb Indonesian ebony wood carving of a Legong dancer, expertly rendered capturing the marvelous grace and elegance of this traditional Balinese dance.

As Wikipedia describes it, "Legong is a form of Balinese dance. It is a refined dance form characterized by intricate finger movements, complicated footwork, and expressive gestures and facial expressions. Legong probably originated in the 19th century as royal entertainment. Legend has it that a pri...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a very large and finely detailed Indonesian acrylic on canvas original by artist I Made Rajia of Penestanan Village, Ubud Bali, painted in 1999. This magnificent piece is composed in what is known as their "Traditional Style" genre, depicting a snapshot of typical village life. The artist here has used a somewhat unusual but very effective palette of earth tones combined with heavy emphasis of yellow and orange coloration to achieve a sophisticated but still...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, a fine and large tempura on silk original painting depicting figures in what seems like a celestial dance, almost a magical procession. Back in the day we used to call these compositions "Peshawars," referencing their point of origin as Peshawar Pakistan, but it is possible that similar pieces are being produced in the border regions of Northern India these days as travel through Pakistan has become much more hazardous.

Size and Condition: Framed ...