Catalog (1369)

Late Qing Dynasty to Republic period (1900s to 1930s) Chinese porcelain covered round box for seal paste with underglaze blue painting of a phoenix in flight among wispy clouds. Excellent quality freehand painting with beautiful washes, in superb condition, was never used, I guess. Four seal style character mark on the bottom. Very quiet subtle piece for scholar’s desk. Diameter 2 1/2 inches.

Vintage Chinese soapstone small scholar’s rock carved to represent a Taihu stone with numerous perforations and crevices. Beautiful Liaoning green soapstone with excellent waxy surface, extraordinary carving, in superb condition. Wonderful object for a scholar’s desk. Base length 1 1/4 inches, total height 3 1/8 inches.

19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of Bato. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, great patina. some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.15 inches.

18th century small votive Indian bronze sculpture cast in Karnataka state representing Bhudevi with bare breasts and closed blue lotus (nilotpala) in her hand. Bhudevi is the consort of Lord Vishnu and personifies the Earth. Classic statue with excellent casting and detailing, standing with her body slightly bent in S-shaped form called tribhanga, modeled with grace and beauty, bronze with high copper contents, wonderful warm patina, traces of sandalwood paste used during worship, in excellent ...

18th century Indian bronze Shiva shrine from Western India in a form of a courtyard, the family of Shiva seated around a lingam, including his wife Parvati, their son Ganesha, and Nandi bull at the entrance of the shrine. The back halo has the protective naga (cobra) with its hood wide open, and there is a pile of offerings in the front right corner of the shrine. Nice piece with good casting and detailing, good patina with accumulated sooty dust from incense, very pleasant feel of age. Height 2...

Japanese scroll painting in ink and colors on paper depicting 16 arhat - the original disciples of the historical Buddha - each with his attribute or animal companion. Excellent quality eccentric painting with wonderful half-mad faces, beautiful use of colors. Silk brocade mounts, rosewood scroll ends, in great condition. Exceptionally striking painting, comes with inscribed kiriwood box. Signed SUIMEI followed by 2 red seals by the artist. Painting size 57 x 14.5 inches, scroll size 82.5 x 12 i...

19th century Japanese scroll in ink and colors on silk depicting a woman beating a piece of clothing with a mallet by an old bamboo fence. Beautiful work perfectly capturing the essence of the scene, elegant composition, subtle use of color. Signature appears to read SOTANI and is followed by 2 red seals of the artist. Silk brocade mounts, rosewood scroll ends, excellent painting for use during tea ceremony. Painting size 10.25 x 7.75 inches, scroll size 36 x 9.75 inches.

19th century Edo period Japanese kashira (metal pommel at the end of the hilt of a sword) with relief depiction of a crane in flight over pine saplings, all on a finely punched ground texture called nanako, which means “fish-eggs” as it resembles fine rows of caviar. Wonderful crisp metalwork, some worn gilding, in great condition. Length 1 1/4 inches.

19th century Chinese rock crystal seal made out of a natural polished crystal in a shape of a tall and narrow mountain peak characteristic of Southern China. The impression of the seal is shown on the first photo (image is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper). Very beautiful stone with few natural features by the bottom, excellent quality carving of 2 raised characters, very fine polish to the surface, traces of red seal paste in the grooves. Very good o...

Late 19th century Chinese scholar jadeite seal of oval section with narrower finial with a hole for hanging. The impression of the seal is shown on the first photo (image is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper). Natural untreated jadeite of very light green. The bottom is carved with raised characters, traces of red seal paste in the grooves. Wonderful piece appropriate for a scholar’s desk, excellent finish to the stone. Height 1 1/2 inches, length 5/...

Rather unusual Japanese porcelain obidome / netsuke in a shape of a mask of a female theatrical character Waka-Onna. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, and is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions. Very clever design, excellent modeling and enameling - see her crisp features and delicate toning of the face. Bar on the back for an obi or netsuke cord, in perfect condition. Signed KOSUZU on the back. Comes with original tomobako (a storag...

18th century Japanese sword iron tanto tsuba with brass inlays of autumn leaves blown by the wind. Very good piece with gilding, precise detailing and overall mood of contemplation and melancholy. The plate has a dark brown patina, in excellent condition. Height 2.13 inches.

Late Meiji - early Taisho (1910s) Japanese pottery Bizen ware chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony). Wonderful potting, buff color clay with beautiful orange streaks, pleasant patina, impressed mark of the potter on the bottom. Later turned dark hardwood lid lined with gold paper on the inside. Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag). Great piece in excellent condition. Height with cover 3 1/8 inches, maximum body diameter 2 3/16 inches.

Early 19th century Edo period Japanese sword bronze kashira (metal pommel at the end of the hilt of a sword) with raised decoration of various sea shells, all on finely textured ground called nanako, which means “fish-eggs” as it resembles fine rows of caviar. Wonderful design in Japanese taste, beautifully made piece, obvious age wear. Length 1.34 inches.

19th century small lacquer netsuke carved in a shape of mokugye - a Buddhist gong with 2 dragons contesting a Precious Gem in their mouths. Carved out of a slab of lacquer, which was made of differently colored layers, thus giving the finished piece rich play of colors. Beautiful patina, signed with a single character MITSU. Height 0.96 inches.

Vintage Chinese soapstone small brush rest carved to represent a Taihu scholar’s rock with numerous perforations and crevices. Beautiful Yunnan pink soapstone with wonderful carving, compressed dust on the surface, in great condition. Wonderful object for a scholar’s desk. Length 2.82 inches, height 0.94 inches.

19th century Japanese wooden nyoi - a Buddhist scepter - in a form of a branch with bulbous head. Nyoi, or Ruyi scepter is a traditional symbol of scholarship and transmission of knowledge. Natural tree branch with a growth forming the head of the scepter, no carving as such, wonderful patina to the surface from being handled, very pleasant to hold. Excellent subtle piece for a scholar’s desk, or a practicing Buddhist, and is indispensable for hitting acolytes who have fallen asleep during med...

Vintage Chinese soapstone small brush rest carved to represent a Taihu scholar’s rock with numerous perforations and crevices. Beautiful Guangdong green soapstone, extraordinary carving, compressed dust in crevices, in great condition. Wonderful object for a scholar’s desk. Length 3 3/16 inches, height 1 3/8 inches.