Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art (239)

As described by the American Art Association in their 1924 Catalog: "Vigorously modeled in conventional forms, seated in haunches, on flat multilinear pedestals with curved feet and cusped fringe. They represent the mythical lions, called "dogs of Foo", the guardians of Buddhist temples and images. Both with open mouths, coats of waved lines and spreading tails. The male has right forepaw resting on ball of brocade and the female has left forepaw on a playful cub. Soft "pipe clay" pottery, covered with a thin glaze of light bronze-green of malachite color with mottlings of earthy green, giving a remarkable re-semblance to a very ancient bronze." PROVENANCE: Used to belong to A. W. Bahr and were part of his Chinese Art Collection during the early 20th century. They were purchased at an American Art Association Auction, in New York, in 1916, to become part of the Kano Oshima Collection. They were sold at another American Art Association Auction, in New York, in 1924. (lot 745) to an unknown collector. Photo #11 - from the American Art Association catalog for the 1924 auction. A single similar Foo Dog sold at auction at Sotheby's Hong Kong for 302,400 HKD (USD$38,682) on 17 December 2022 (Photo #12) The pair represent classic male and female lions which were used by the Chinese as symbols of protection for a home or workplace. During the Ming and Qing, and earlier Dynasties the pair are found as depicted here, with the female lion holding or caressing a cub, representing the cycle of life. The male lion is shown with its right paw over an 'embroidery ball', carved in a geometric pattern, representing supremacy over the world. Traditionally, the female lion is seen as protector of home occupants, while the male lion protects the structure of the house. The statues are in excellent preserved condition, with no chips or repairs. They are heavily patinated, and show some slight wear. MEASUREMENTS Height: 9.5 inches (24cm) Width: 4.0 inches (10cm) at the lions' paws Length: 6.0 inches (15.2cm)

This is an Exceptionally carved Zitan Wood Ruyi Scepter with Pheaant Jade Plaques - Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) A Zitan hardwood Ruyi Scepter with Pheasant Jade Plaques, a common theme of the Ming Dynasty. The curving hardwood Scepter, like Zitan, of a medium wood color, separates the sea-foam white to light green Pheasant Jade Plaques at the middle, tail and head, all reticulated in the Ming period style to depict birds within an intricate mesh of multi-layered floral tendrils. Excellently preserved original condition. Length: 35cm (14 inches) Width of largest plaque: 2 inches The Pheasant Plaques on this Ruyi Scepter are exactly as the Ming Period Pheasant Jade Plaques sold at Zacke Galleries on 15 October 2021 (photos 9 and 10) This scepter is very similar to a Ming Period Ruyi Scepter sold at Christies in March 2014 (photo #11) for $32,500

This is a superbly Hand-carved EDO Period Boxwood Netsuke depicting a Mother, holding a trumpet in her right hand, and carrying a child on her back. The artist, on this netsuke, seems to have wanted to be unique by having the woman adopt a pose and portray a character that is normally associated with a male foreigner, such as her holding of a trumpet, which is uncharacteristic of a common Japanese woman . It is an outstanding piece representative of Tametaka, whose work, according to George Lazarnick, is "striking for its originality of design, strong character and individual treatment; full of spirit and power". Tametaka, according to George Lazarnick in his book 'Netsuke and Inro Artists and How to Read their Signatures, is the earliest known netsuke carver of Nagoya, the only one mentioned in the Soken Kisho. Founder of the Nagoya School, and of the uki-bori, or relief carving technique associated with that school '. This is the only depiction of a common Japanese woman (as compared to a female Japanese legend character) made by Tametaka, according to Fuld's Netsuke and Ojime Index. Signed Minamoto Tametaka, thought to be the same as Tametaka I, in an inlaid natural material tablet, as mentioned and illustrated by George Lazarnick, in his signature book, page 1077. This is the only inlaid work known to have been done by Tametaka, according to George Lazarnick. This awesome miniature sculpture measures 1.28 inches (3.2cm) wide, and three inches tall (7.6cm), and its in excellent preserved condition (for a 200 year-old netsuke), as shown in the attached photos. NOTE: Most Tametaka netsuke have sold for $12,000 or more by major auction houses, such as Christies and Bonhams. The netsuke shown in photo #9 were sold for $27,034, $11,950, $57,687, and $19,358, respectively. This netsuke has an estimated value of $15,000 to $18,000, according to Neil Davey. (This estimate was done at the International Netsuke Society Convention at Baltimore, MD, on 06 September 2015)

This is an impressively preserved Terracotta Tomb Pottery, Sancai-Glazed figure of Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals. He is one of the most widely known of the Eight Daoist Immortals and considered to be the leader of the group. He is thought to have lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-906) and he is depicted as a scholarly gentleman. He appears sitting on a stool, holding a fan. The glazed remains on most of the figure's body, except on its head and skirt of the stool, and the figures preserves most of its original features. It has only a couple of chips at the based of the skirt base. MEASUREMENTS Height: 8.0 inches (20cm) Width: 3.25 inches (8cm) Weight: 15.6 oz

This is a unique, one-of-a-kind, an excellently carved Antique Zitan Wood Ruyi Scepter with Jade Plaques - Good Fortune Theme A extremely rare, unique, Chinese made hardwood Ruyi Scepter with Mother of Pearl and single Spinach Jade Plaques. There is not another Ruyi Scepter like it anywhere. The curving hardwood Scepter, like Zitan, of a dark brown wood color extensively carved all throughout with Lingzhi, a type of mushroom whose head resembles a stylized cloud and is associated with long life. It carries five plaques made from mother-of-pearl, and spinach jade, carved in high relief as follows: The largest plaque, at the head of the scepter, is carved with a bat, which considered by the Chinese as a symbol of Wealth, that is holding a double tendril from which are hanging two fish, which are symbols of 'Good Fortune'. On the sides of the fish there are two bats, which symbolize 'Double Happiness'. Right below the Scepter head there is a plaque in the form of a bat (symbol of Wealth). The Middle plaque is carved with two bats (Double Happiness) surrounded by Lingzhi Right below, there is a small plaque carved with the 寿 shòu emblem carved that signifies Longevity. The bottom plaque is carved with two bats (Double Happiness) surrounded by Lingzhi Excellently preserved original condition. Length: 37.5cm (14 3/4 inches) Width of largest plaque: 2.5 inches

21.375" blade with a wild midare hamon. Nakago with eight-character signature "Harima Daijō Fujiwara Tadakuni" ( 信濃大掾藤原忠國 ) ; probably 2nd generation (1624). Nagako is possibly ubu (meaning that remains as it is since it was made) with three mekugi-ana. Blade contained in shirasaya attributing blade to Tadakuni. Swordsmith is listed as TA41 from W.M. Hawley, page 368.

SAYAGAKI is the writing on the shirasaya that is done by a sword expert for the purpose of identification. It is in a manner similar to an NBTHK. It provides the name and title of the swordsmith. The name of the Sensei (master/expert) and his opinion of the sword, and in some cases some of the characteristics of the sword, such as its length.

This piece was made by Harima Daijyo Fujiwara Tadakuni who is the son of First Generation Tadayoshi's father Hashimoto Rokurozaemon. He first engraved as Hironori. At Kanei 11th year(1634) he has received the post of Harima Daijyo and changed his name to Tadakuni. At his early carrier as Harima Daijyo, he engraved the Kanji of Ma 磨 signature as different Ma 摩. There were many pieces remaining from Kanei Period to Kanbun period. At later age, he has called himself Harima Nyudo Kyutetsu. He had engraved names such as Hizen Jyu Harima Daijyo Fujiwara Tadakuni, Harima Daijyo Fujiwara Tadakuni and Hizen Ju Harima Nyudo Kyutetsu. He was outstanding sword smith inside the group Waki-Hizen of Hizen province. This blade is typical Tadakuni, and the Gunome Midare Hamon is nice. The signature is clear

Condtion: Blade is mostly clean, showing an old polish. It was some barely noticeable spider-web rust on the left side of the blade and a couple of slight micro-chips. Otherwise, is in excellent condition for its 350 year-old history.

Blade Length (Cutting Edge): 21.375 inches

Full length (with mountings): 30.25 inches

Motokasane: 7.34mm

Weight (Blade only): 595 grams (12lb, 5oz)

This is a very rare form for a Jade Bottle, its Cylindrical Form, and the variety of color skins that surround it and that appear to portray their own artistic rendering with splashes of Russet, brownish, light brown, black, gray, over a white-gray ground. It was probably made during the period Qing Dinasty period, 1740-1840. It is perfectly symmetrically rounded with rounded shoulders, and ends rounded around a perfect circular raised bottom that features a flat base. It comes with a stopper that has a combination of jade on the bottom, topped with reticulated metal that holds a reddish jade dome. This spectacular looking bottle is in excellent preserved condition. An identical form and material snuff bottle is illustrated in 'The Collector's Book of Snuff Bottles", by Bob C. Stevens, Item 690, page 177 Photo #8: A similar form and material bottle that was part of the J&J Collection was sold at Christies for $7,800 on 28 Mar 2006 Photo #9: An identical form, material and period bottle was at Auction on Sotheby's London, with a price estimate of 3,000 - 5,000 GBP on 13 May 2015 Bottle Measurements Height: 2.47 inches (6.2cm) - not including stopper Diameter: 1.08 inches (2.8cm) Weight: 2.4 ounces

This is a very fine, atypical Seven-Sided Faceted Ruby Red over Colorless Glass Snuff Bottle of Meiping (Prunus Blossom Vase) form, with gently curved Concave faceted sides that have been precisely cut to show the colorless clear interior (photo #7), with straight round neck, flat lips, and a slightly protruding and circular flat footing. This bottle is very probable a product of the Imperial Glassworks; it exhibits all the characteristics or features common on snuff bottles produced during the Imperial Phase of the Qianlong Period of Japan (Please refer to the three bottles from the Marakovic Collection in photo #8): the Imperial Ruby Red Color - Item #I.26, the faceted Meiping form - Item # I.27, and the functional snuff "dish", with thin and flat footrim - item # I.40. The faceted concave sides were used as 'dishes' to crumble the snuff that sometimes lumped together inside the bottle. Even the color mixture on this bottle is a result of the work that the Palace glassmakers were experimenting with at the time, according to Hugh Moss and Stuart Sargent in their book 'The Marakovic Collection", 'blending Ruby red, purple or grape colours into colorless glass and using the faceting to emphasize the color variation", as this bottle clearly shows. Although the bottle is in excellent preserved condition, it shows some of the scratches and minute nicks that are common with bottles that have survived from the Qianlong Period. It is a great historical piece. It comes with an opaque crystal stopper shaped in the form of a bird. Bottle Measurements Height: 2.68 inches (6.8cm), not including the stopper Diameter: 1.60 inches (4.0cm) Weight: 2.8 ounces

19th Century, very fine hand-carved netsuke depiction of a Naturalistic Human Skull (See photo #11 for comparison with actual Human Skull), with seven natural material teeth in the upper jaw, and fine parietal lines covering the cranium. Attributed to Tomochika, because of its close likeness to a spectacular netsuke of the same subject auctioned by Lempertz Auction House (photo #9), that rivals the skulls made by Sukenao (Photo #10). This skull is identical to the Lempertz Tomochika Skull in all its aspects, to include its form and size, 4.4cm tall, which is very large in volume when compared to most netsuke. This outstanding miniature work of art is Unsigned. Netsuke measures 1.53 inches (3.9cm) wide, 1.94 inches (4.9cm) long, and 1.73 inches (4.4cm) tall. It is in outstanding condition, as you may be able to see in the posted photos.

This is a very fine, flattened, rounded square form Snuff Bottle with a straight round neck, rounded sloping shoulders, resting on a raised oval footing. Made of Black Jade. The bottle is well hollowed, decorated with slight high relief carving of a Peony flower (a symbol of beauty in China) and branch on each side. It has a very smooth and lustrous surface. It comes with a light brown and black agate stopper with spoon. The black color in jade is described by most sources as ‘very deep green, but, because of the high iron content, it appears black’…as these pieces of jade are very black, you tend not to see through most of the stone” This bottle appears to be very black through the naked eye. When you place a light source on its mouth, the reflection of the light does not pass through, as it is supposed to. However, when you shine a light on the sides of the bottle, its color then appears very deep dark green, with some charcoal gray wide patches and a small area of minute black intrusions. In this case, the jade appears in layers of dark green and dark-gray, almost black. The craftsman very cleverly used the darker gray/black tone of the stone’s skin to carve the Peony flowers and branches, and left the dark green layer as ground. A similar bottle was sold at auction at Skinner on 19 September 2015 for $3,567. Another Black Jade bottle with similar characteristics was sold at Christies on 13 September 2007 for $10,625 . This outstanding bottle is in remarkable preserved condition. Bottle Measurements Height: 2.36 inches (6.0cm) - not including stopper Width: 2.0 inches (5.0cm) Thickness: 1.72 inches (4.3cm) Weight: 4.2 ounces

This is an awesome, excellently carved Urn made from Celadon Nephrite Jade with Mutton Fat and Russet inclusions.

It is carved with a Xiezhi (Justice Beast) motive. Two of these mythical creatures are shown sprawling in a recumbent manner on the front and back of the vase, with two stylized creatures crawling up on the sides. It has Xiezhi head handles with rings placed in the manner of the four directional coordinates. The cover or lid displays a powerful horned Xiezhi creature on top that is adorned with double handles with rings.

Excellently preserved original condition.

Urn Measurements

Height: 8.5 inches (22.5cm), including Lid

Width: 4.5 inches (11.5cm)

Weight: 3.0 lbs

This is Mutton-Fat White Jade Snuf Bottle of flattened, upright rectangular form with rounded, sloping shoulders, rounded neck, with a raised elongated oval footing. Undecorated, but, perfectly polished, and sporting a wonderful symmetry all around, and an even, near-flawless bright tone all throughout. Well-hollowed. It comes with a green jadeite flattened stopper. Its style is common of snuff bottles produced during the early 19th century. This outstanding bottle is in remarkable preserved condition. Bottle Measurements Height: 2.36 inches (6.0cm) - not including stopper Width: 1.58 inches (4.0cm) Thickness: 0.72 inches (1.8cm) Weight: 2.4 ounces

This is a very rare and excellently made Chinese Snuff Bottle made with a mosaic of multicolor inlaid jadaite with overlay Mother of Pearl depicting a monkey underneath a flowering tree, with matching jadeite domed stopper. The base incised with the Qianlong reign mark. Wonderful preserved condition. Bottle Measurements Height: 2.71 inches (6.9cm) Width: 1.70 inches (4.3cm) Depth: 0.87 inches (2.2cm) Weight: 1.2 ounces

This is a mid-19th century netsuke possibly made by Ishikawa Rensai. an Asakusa School carver, that paints a comical portrayal of a Fu L:ion in a reclining pose with its right paw resting on a Mokugyo. Attributed to the Asakusa carver because of the close likeness of the subjects' characteristics and theme. A very similar piece was sold at the Mang Netsuke Collection Sale, conducted on 07 December 2012, at Falls Church, VA, by Quinn's Auction Galleries, Lot 180, for $2,600, plus premium (25%). See photo #6. Wonderful two-tone patina. Unsigned. Netsuke measures 1.41 inches (3.6cm) wide, 2.06 inches (5.2cm) long, and 0.88 inches (2.2cm) long. It has an age hairline on the Fu Lion's back, but, it is solid, and in excellent preserved condition.

This is an antique, Early 20th C., finely hand carved Japanese netsuke, made by Yukimasa (Tadami Uno), depicting a seldom seem version of a Fukura Suzuma or 'Tongue-cut Sparrow', with an elderly woman seated on the right wing of the bird, holding very tight to its neck, while carrying a pair of scissors on her right hand. Very nicely detailed with a rich patina. The bird's eyes inlaid in dark horn.Signed Kosho on the bird's bottom. Netsuke measures 1.65 inches (4.2cm) wide, and 1.10 inches (2.8cm) tall. NOTE: A reference to the Carver Yukimasa and his signature is found on page 1252 of Lazarnick's Netsuke and Inro Artists and How to Read their Signaturesa.

EDO PERIOD JAPANESE SAMURAI YOROI KABUTO ZUNARI HELMET WITH SHIKORO

EDO Period Japanese Samurai Yoroi Zunari (Head shaped) Kabuto helmet. Multiple piece Hachi (bowl) construction. Some of original lacquer remains (on the outer shikoro). Four-piece Shikoro (Neck guard of a helmet). Original Shikoro blue-color lace. Original oharaidate (a rectangular hollow socket used to hold a maedate of a kabuto) intact for frontal Datemono (helmet crest) fastening. Gold color paint added later. Internal fabric liner (with a couple of rips), and fastening cord are present. Excellent preserved condition

Height: 6.5 inches

Length: 11 inches

Diameter: 36 inches

Weight: 2 lbs 12 oz

Century Japanese Ebony Wood Netsuke: Tanuki Badger, Signed Minko with Kakikan

19th Century, finely hand-carved boxwood netsuke depicting a seated Tanuki, or Japanese Badger (raccoon dog) raising his right paw in order to beat his belly, or distended scrotum as it if were a drum. Pupils made in bronze and inlaid with black horn. Wonderful chimney himotoshi that starts on the bottom, and extends to the left side of his body, between his legss. Signed Minko, with kakihan, on the bottom of the piece.

According to Japanese legend, a Tanuki is a real animal with supernatural powers, as are the fox or a cat. He is a mischievous animal that uses many disguises to deceive or annoy passers-by.

Netsuke measures 1.42 inches (3.6cm) in diameter (on the bottom), and 1.64 inches (4.2cm) tall. It is in excellent condition as you may see in the posted photos.

18th Century Japanese Wood Tall Netsuke: Gama Sennin

18th Century, excellently hand-carved Boxwood Netsuke depicting a standing Gama, wearing the typical mugwort cape with wide sleeves, and a rope tied at his waist, holding a staff with his right hand, and carrying a three-legged toad (that possesses magical powers) on top of his left shoulder. Very interesting himotoshi that starts in the back of the Sennin and exits on the left side of his body (see photo #8). Very rich, dark, lustrous patina. Unsigned.

Netsuke measures 1.22 inches (3.1cm) wide, and 2.86 inches (9.0cm) tall. This is a very fine example of a tall* netsuke. It is in excellent preserved condition, as you may be able to see in the posted photos.

* Oversized or tall netsuke are extremely rare. According to Yakari Yoshida, in a 1999 International Netsuke Society Journal article, this type of netsuke make up approximately only one percent or less of all netsuke held at major collections. According to the author, most of these netsuke were made in the 18th and early 19th centuries, and among the subjects represented by these tall miniature sculptures are Sennin and foreigners, such as the theme of the carving listed here.