Catalog: Antiques (338)

A large Imari bowl with a scalloped foliate rim made for the European market decorated to the exterior with a wide diaper brocade band incorporating a cross motif and Karahana. The cross in this context probably represents “sen”, one thousand, and combined with the karahana represents an auspicious wish for a long life...

An unusual Arita saucer dish decorated with a three colour pattern of a pair of gnarled prunus , Japanese apricot trees incorporating four low relief Prunus flowers, umehana, approximately 50% larger than the painted flowers, and a central motif of a Flowering Peony branch. The reverse decorated with three further flowering prunus branches. A single underglaze blue circle to the interior of the footring and a set of four spur marks in a "Y" shaped formation...

A medium sized bowl decorated in “Kinrande” style for the Japanese domestic market. These richly enamelled wares were patronised by the wealthy merchant class and tend to be decorated primarily with auspicious objects and patterns, kissho-ga which gives rise to the alternative description “katamono”, meaning literally standard objects...

A large deep bowl made for the Japanese domestic market painted with a “kotobuki” longevity shou character ground in iron red, gold and underglaze blue inset with three ogee lobed reserves with Aoi or Shuro mon within a karakusa style vine arabesque. Framed by bands of stylised Lotus and Jui (ruyi). The well of the bowl is decorated with Peonies...

A finely potted large Chinese Imari three colour Charger decorated with a design of a garden with elaborate fence with Lotus finials to the posts and Mudan, flowering Peonies, Asters and various other flowers, coupled with a flowering Baicai, white cabbage (Pak Choi); traditional symbols of prosperity and wealth. The cavetto is undecorated and the rim painted with a further auspicious arabesque of entwined Peonies and Chrysanthemums, symbolising longevity and eternal youth. The reverse is pain...

A dish of plain everted form measuring seven suns in diameter and decorated in somenishikide style with a traditional kacho-ga pattern of a pair of Butterflies and a Rock Peony. An auspicious pattern symbolising harmony and prosperity. The reverse decorated with scattered Peony leaf sprigs and the base is plain. The dish dating to circa 1780-1800. The reverse decorated with auspicious stylised Chinese clouds and a four character Fu Ki Cho Sun mark. A single spur mark to the base...

A very unusual pair of moulded dishes in the form of three bamboo leaves, take, cobalt blue glazed with gilt and iron red Sparrows , Suzume, set against a woven ground in gold. A variant on the popular Sparrow and Bamboo pattern, “Takesuzume”...

A good Arita moulded foliate rimmed dish decorated in an Imari three colour style with a central motif of entwined Pine, Plum and Bamboo branches with a wide border containing Chrysanthemum’s and Irises and Peonies growing from stylised rockwork. The reverse decorated with various sprigs with Peony, Camelia and Plum flowers. A set of four spurs in a “Y” shaped formation supporting the base of the dish...

An unusual Arita dish of typical scalloped rinka form decorated with a variant of the so-called “Sweet Pea” pattern. A Chinese export pattern largely produced for the South East Asian Market and in particular for Chinese communities living there. This dish was probably made for the Japanese domestic market as a novelty, or it may possibly have been made for the Asian export Market. The elaborate vine arabesque is painted in pencilled style. The reverse is decorated with stylised sprigs...

An unusual Arita dish with an out-turned rim decorated in a greyish toned under-glaze blue with a Chinese Export Qianlong “Chinoiserie” style pattern featuring a conventionalised landscape of Pagoda and Islands surrounded by two bands of diaper containing four floral sprigs, Peonies and Chrysanthemums...

A high quality Arita porcelain dish decorated with an auspicious pattern composed of a central motif made up of three shippo or cash symbols bound together by a stylised Peony leaf vine; a variant of the more usual ribbon tied cash see EW3193. The cavetto decorated with a Tako-karakusa ground and the rim with a diaper band. The reverse is meticulously painted with a band of stylised lotus pattern to the base of the footrim...

An unusual low bowl with the primary subject of a Minogame, a symbol of longevity, decorated in somenishikide style in underglaze blue with additional enamels. The three Lobate reserves outlined in underglaze blue with yellow enamels framing an iron red ground inset with an auspicious minogame set against an iron red diaper ground. Each reserve divided by a stylised symmetric floral arrangement of a Poppy flower surrounded with foliage in underglaze blue and gilt detailing...

A bowl and accompanying saucer or stand both with slightly everted lips. Decorated in a combination of underglaze blue with enamels, iron red and green, with gilding...

A high quality "Porcelain for Palaces" type Arita dish with foliate rim in Imari export style decorated in the full Imari five colour palette principally with Irises, Peonies and Chrysanthemums, with Fence-work and Plum trees and a central motif of Peonies. The reverse decorated with flowering Plum and Rock peonies and an Artemesia leaf. For a set of thirteen dishes with the same pattern in the Royal Collection see C&J : Ayers, J., 2016...

A long handled bronze mirror Kagami-e decorated with a representation of the Great Buddha of Kamakura, Dai Butsu Kamakura, set against a nashiji style ground suggestive of small billowing clouds. The handle terminating with a representation of a Temple Bell. The mirror is a so-called Makyo or magic mirror, when a strong light source at a certain angle is placed in front of the mirror an image of the Buddha Amida is projected (see last image). This mirror dates to the middle of the 19th cen...

A rare Arita export dish decorated in Kakiemon style with a pair of Hoo birds, (Fenghuang or Pheonixes) amongst rocks and flowers, Peonies and Chrysanthemums. The rim decorated with a Bird and vine pattern arabesque. Identical dishes exist painted in this pattern but enamelled in the classic Kakiemon palette. The “Bird bird and vine” pattern appears on “Kakiemon” export teapots of the same period. The curious blobs arranged in groups of three, represent Stars, Hoshi. The reverse is pl...

An unusual dish of mokkogata “melon” form decorated with a central motif of Tojin, Chinese or possibly Korean or Manchu figures in a Temple landscape with Hexagonal panels depicting Chinese boys playing, “karako kigi-zu” set against a ground of tama, pearls, and fronds. The boys are equipped with various items including fans and drumsticks to beat the partially obscured drum or gong. In the foreground there is an odd bird shaped toy, probably a kite. Such subjects tend to be popular ...

A pair of Arita, probably the Higuchi kiln at Nangawara, Celadon square form mukuzuke, decorated with alternating panels of Immortals and a Landscape, probably an evocation of Penglai (Horai-san) the Isle of the Immortals all painted in a combination of kinsai gilding combined with iron red and green enamels. Gilding to the rims, kin-beni. The mukuzuke measure approximately 10.5cm diagonally and stand 7cm high. They are of slightly flared square form with indented corners and are quite thick...