Catalog (414)

The falcon is represented resting on a branch. His expression is attentive and we can guess that he is hunting. The artist knew how to infuse him with all the ruthless savagery in his gaze. It is signed by Haru Mitsu. It is finely carved in wood, probably cherry,the pupils inlaid in black horn.I remember having read that this artist liked to exaggerate certain parts of the body of his subjects, here it is clear that the claws, eyes and beak are strongly exaggerated. This is what gives all its strength and aggressiveness to this small sculpture.Good condition. Tiny wear and chips, normal for a century-old okimono. Excellent carving. H:14cm.

Crucifix in wood and pewter. The cross is made up of 2 planks of softwood, fir or larch? The Christ and the other elements are in cast pewter (or lead?). A similar but smaller crucifix is kept at the Victoria & Albert museum which advertises it as an 18th century Spanish work. 375 x 185 mm Good condition, some lacks as can be seen on photos. Very rare item.

The cabinet is solidly constructed with planks of resinous wood probably Hinoki (a variety of cypress), it is reinforced with artistically forged and cut fittings in the purest Japanese spirit, it has 3 locks which is exceptional, the main side with key, that of the upper part of the door also with key and secret sliding system and that of the lower part simply with secret system. This type of chest was used, it is said, by ship captains. 2 identical chests were kept in the 1950s at the Metropolitan Museum and dated from the 16th century. The presence of key locks imposes a temporal limit on us, in fact It was only from 1563 that the Portuguese, landing in Japan, brought European technologies, notably those of firearms but also those of locksmithing. Very quickly, probably in a few months, the skillful Nippon blacksmiths created their own locks. It is interesting to note that the entry hole for the locks of these cabinets is broken in the shape of an L, is this a specificity of this period? The quality of the wood is superb, the cabinetmaker selected boards with twisted veins, similar to the movements of the waves, the subtlety of the Japanese spirit allows us to think that the cabinetmaker saw a continuity of the sea. A photo shows the assembly of the boards by "crenel" tenons held by dowels. I have not found traces of the 2 other chests of the Metropolitan but I have photos of them, both have only one lock and are made of wood with a simple grain. This chest of great aesthetics and built with the greatest care stands out from the ordinary and was certainly ordered by an important person. Dimensions, 460x395x365mm Very heavy, 15kg. Good condition, complete, no restoration, excellent patina. The wood is scratched in places, see the photos.

White jade pendant stained with rust representing a goose busy washing itself. The bird is represented resting on a large lotus leaf, its head preening its dorsal feathers, gracefully curving its neck which stands out from the body and serves as a natural handle for passing the silk cord. The compact shape, the whiteness of the rust-stained stone, the subject, the natural attachment and the quality of the sculpture as well as the details make it a jewel of excellent quality. Chinese lapidary work from the Qing period, probably 18th century but perhaps earlier. Length approximately 7cm.

Glazed stoneware lime pot. Relief decoration, glued to the slip representing a dragon, a phoenix and Buddhist emblems covered with thick blue, brown and cream enamels. Vietnamese work from the 19th century or before. Some applied elements have peeled off and the enamel has chipped in places over time as can be seen in the photos. Rare ceramic of good quality. Higth: 225mm

Vase in cloisonné enamel on metal.Rose decoration. Mark of Ando.Japan Taisho period. Metal vase, probably copper, covered with green enamel, partly cloisonné with silver wire and partly "musen" (without wire), chrome metal borders. Stylized rose decoration. Ando's mark struck in the metal below the bottom edge. Good condition. Height 21cm.

Very rare small silk holder in black and gold lacquered wood. Similar models but of normal size to carry kimono are not frequent but of this small size it is quite exceptional. I am not sure about the function, but as the object can be dismantled easily, I think it is a travel silk stand, probably for towels. The decoration of gold powder tendrils on a black lacquer background surrounds the Mon of 2 families which leads me to believe that this silk holder was a wedding gift. The mounts are made of incised copper and hot gilded with mercury and gold powder. Mid Edo period around 1800 or earlier. Good condition, no missing or replaced parts. A few small chocs and wear usual for an object that is 200 years old. Some chipped roiro lacquer on the top bar, visible on picture. 68x58x24cm.

An excellent shakudo tsuba inlaid with a "thousand flowers" decoration in gold, silver and sentoku. The technique is particular, the tsuba is first cast in shakudo with all the flowers in relief, then chiseled. Then each flower is covered with a thick sheet of metal, gold, silver or sentoku, this sheet is hammered on the sides of the flowers as one would border a bed sheet. Excellent work , exceedingly difficult more than inlaid. This was not done to save material nor economy, because the silver and especially the sentoku are of little value but to keep a solidity at the guard which would have been too weakened by deep incustation cuts. A part of a sentoku chrysanthemum is missing that can be seen on a photo revealing the shakudo base. Otherwise perfect condition, no restorations or hidden defects. Original patinas. 72x69x4 mm Curiously no signature which is unusual for an object of this quality. But I have already had and seen Japanese objects of exceptional quality unsigned because as they were intended for the emperor or other important persons it would have been outrageous that an artist affixes his name. Maybe also the signature was only on the fushi? very unlikely because the tsuba is the main part of the mounting. A tsuba of a pair of "daisho" of which only one has been signed? also unlikely. A final hypothesis, some great artist artists with exceptional work, knowing that their works were technically and / or artistically inimitable, could afford not to sign, the masterpiece that could only have been made by them

Very beautiful tsuba in sentoku inlaid with shakudo, gold and silver by Jo-I, first-rank artist from the end of the 18th century. The funny subject represents a man driving demons out of his house by throwing beans on the ground. Excellent work, perfect finish. No restoration or hidden defects. Original patinas. 67x58x4 mm

Cut iron tsuba. Decor of dragons and sacred pearls. Inside the beads, tiny iron balls are mobile. The style is called Namban. This kind of tsuba is little represented without however being rare. But the model presented here is exceptionally of excellent quality. Indeed the blacksmith has cut out his pattern excessively finely like an iron lace. We do not know of a model with such thin wires cut at the extreme limit of the constraints of the metal. Japan early Edo about 1700. Dimensions: 65x2mm Good condition.

Tsuba in cut iron, details inlaid in solid gold. The characters are excessively in relief, thickness of the tsuba 4.8 mm and 9.6 mm for the characters. Diameter: 76mm. Decor representing Jô and Uba with their broom and rake under a pine tree. This refers to the legend of 2 lovers who, united for life, were very happy and together became very old. They died the same day at the same time. Their spirit lives in 2 old pines, one in Sumi-Yoshi and one on the beach of Taka-Sago. On full moon evenings their spirits are reincarnated on the beach of Taka-Sago and they sweep the pine needles. Symbol of eternal marital happines

Tsuba in shakudo decorated with a floral basket flown over by butterflies. Inlays (Taka Zogan) in solid gold, in fact the flowers are not in gilded copper as usual but in cast solid gold. The nanako background is particularly regular and deep. The artist used gold of two shades, a pure yellow and a pale yellow probably due to the addition of platinum or silver. Anonymous despite the excellent quality. Japan 19th century or before. 76x4mm

Tokkuri (alccol bottle) made of hard porcelain. Mikawachi kilns. Japan early 19th century. The bottle has an unusually elegant, typically Japanese shape, it was created for the Japanese market and not for export. The porcelain, immaculately white, has a very fine grain similar to that of marble, which is typical of Hirado clay. A lake landscape decor subtly drowned in mist is painted in a luminous cobalt blue. The quality is superb, the technique is flawless and the drawing is artistically traced with the greatest care. Old Hirado porcelains are rare, they date mainly from the end of the 19th century during the Meiji period, but the Tokkuri presented here is much earlier, its style and quality allow us to date it from the end of the 18th or the beginning of the 19th century, around 1800. Some say that Hirado porcelain is the most beautiful in the world. This Tokkuri is a ceramic worthy of being included in the greatest collections. Shape, material, decor, dimensions, everything is perfect. Good condition. Height:293mm

Tiny porcelain covered jar decorated with plants in polychrome enamels. You can recognize a maple tree. Probably Chinese work of 18th century, but perhaps Japanese Arita late 17°. A very pretty frame in cast and gilded bronze signed by the prestigious Parisian goldsmith "Boin-Taburet". The mark stamped on the side of the bronze base.European frames generally weigh down the porcelain, but here this attractive discreet frame sublimates this pretty small pot. Good condition. No restaure.. A chip on the edge of the lid and near a lack of enamel,firing accident(look photo).About ten centimeters. The mounting maked about 1880 at the end of 19th.

Large cast iron teapot. Very elegant decoration of Mon and stylized flowers. Seems very old to me perhaps ealier than Edo. Datation of iron is difficult. The bottom is broken and glued with resin. It is not usable for tea anymore. Height without the handle : 17cm with the handle : 31 cm

Cast iron teapot. Very deep decoration. Nice quality of cast iron. Unusual interesting decoration, meticulous details (fineness of the dragon ties of the handle). Signed in relief on the back and under the lid. Difficult to date. Meiji or Edo ? only the translation of the signature could tell us the artist and the period. The handle inlaid with plants in silver. Good condition. Height without the handle: 15,5 cm with the handle 25 cm

Small cast iron tea-pot. One side is decorated with lotus flowers, the other side is without any decoration. The spout is doubled in bronze, the handle is in copper as well as the lid which has a decoration of small rounds in light relief of different patina, perhaps formerly gilded. The grip button is in silver plated copper and shakudo. It is likely that this type of jug was also used for alcohol as specified on the invoice issued by the seller in Kyoto which dates it to 1850. Good condition, pours the tea well, without burrs. capacity 60cl. Height: 165mm. Width: 165mm.

Small tea or wine bowl? in Chinese hard porcelain. Decoration of vases and stylized emblems painted in hight fired cobalt blue for the contours and colored enamels with muffle fire. Mark of Emperor Ming Chenghoa, but produced in Jingdezhen in the 18th century, probably during the reign of Kangxi. Good condition. 70x36mm