Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian (1184)

Late 19th century Chinese scholar jadeite seal made out of a slice of a jadeite boulder. 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 pleasing green color, polished sides, original skin of the boulder along the top. The bottom is carved with four sunken characters, traces of red seal paste in the grooves. Wonderful austere piece appropriate for a scholar’s desk...

19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of a bat with large ears and characteristic snout. Uncommon image, excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, 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 1.1 inches.

19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of Namanari. The mask is mostly used in the play The Cursed Metal Head-Ring for the role of the wife who is crazed with jealosy beyond any possibility of redemption. Uncommon image, excellent ferocious face, long lower jaw resulting in wide open mouth, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p...

19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of an oni with a pensive face. Uncommon image, excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, 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 1.2 inches.

19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of an oni with a thoughtful expression. Excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, 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 1.14 inches.

19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of Beshimi. Excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, 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 1.01 inches.

19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask, probably that of Kentoku. Excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, 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 1.13 inches.

18th century Japanese iron sword kashira (metal pommel at the end of the hilt) with inlaid brass dragonfly. Crisp detailed work with fine veining on its wings, wonderful feel of age. Very clever and neat piece. Length 1.46 inches.

18th century or earlier unsigned iron Japanese sword tsuba depicting four scholars and an attendant boy in a bamboo grove. Nicely designed piece with copper, bronze and silver inlays with gilding, old deterioration to both top and bottom part, but the design and detailing is there - see their faves and robe patterns. Great example of early work. Height 3.14 inches.

Late 18th to early 19th century bronze suigaraake (ashtray) netsuke in a modified hexagonal drum shape, its outside cast with a sinuous water dragon chasing a Precious Gem. Very well designed piece, good detailing, functional netsuke shape. Nice old piece with very pleasant patina on metal. Maximum width 1 5/8 inches.

19th century Japanese iron tea ceremony hibashi (long metal chopsticks for handling charcoal in hibachi brazier), each inlaid with 3 multimetal flowers with leaves. These hibashi are for use in the summer time (winter ones have handle parts covered in wood)...

18th century small votive Indian bronze sculpture depicting Shridevi - a form of Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu representing Wealth - with bare breasts and holding an open blue lotus (nilotpala) in her left hand. Very nice casting - see her gracious figure with the slightest bent at the waist and one foot placed in front of the other, beautiful warm patina, high devotional wear, overall in great condition for a votive piece. Height 2 1/4 inches.

19th century Japanese scroll in ink and colors on silk painted by 6 different artists and depicting different hyotan (natural dried double gourds). Wonderful Zen subject, beautiful work, elegant composition, signed by each artist by the gourd that he painted. Paper mounts with some foxing on its lower part), spotted bamboo scroll ends, excellent painting for tea ceremony. Painting size 13 x 19.25 inches, scroll size 40 x 21 inches.

1890s - 1910s (late Meiji - early Taisho) Japanese bamboo basket woven in a shape of a tray to be used for ikebana arrangements or a tea ceremony. Wonderful piece made in Karamono (Chinese, more formal than Japanese) style with square grid center and concentric surround. Finely woven smoked narrow bamboo strips, rich warm patina from smoking process and age. The basket is in excellent shape, no broken strips. Diameter 9 inches, height 2 inches.

Single 19th century Japanese sword menuki depicting a water lily bud with two leaves on stalks. Elegant design in Japanese taste, excellent work with superb detailing, bronze with beautiful coppery patina, in great condition. Signed with a single character KO on a plaque inside. Length 1 5/16 inches.

Late Meiji - early Taisho (1890s - 1910s) Japanese Arita porcelain chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) with sometsuke (underglaze blue and white) decoration. Painted in Shonsui style: initial Shonsui ware is Chinese blue and white porcelain imported to Japan starting in the reign of Tianqi Emperor (1621-1627). Starting from the 18th century Arita kilns have been producing their own items in Shonsui style...

Unusual late Meiji (1890s - 1912) altar set of five small Japanese wooden sculptures of different bodhisattvas in different attitudes. Bodhisattvas are advanced individuals or beings who can achieve buddhahood, but choose not to in order to help others on their road to awakening. Very nicely carved, all faces bear different expressions, some have wire implements in their hands. Obvious losses as seen on photos, remnants of glue on the bottoms (easy enough to remove). Have very good presence...

19th century wooden sashi netsuke made out of natural length of root wood. Elegant simple piece in Japanese taste, himotoshi by the top for hanging, extraordinary beautiful patina, great feel of age, excellent piece for a scholar’s desk. Length 6.25 inches.