Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian (155)

Old Chinese scholar’s rock in a shape of a dramatic snow covered mountain with numerous caves and crevices. Gives wonderful impression of immense energy of the mountain. Zhaoqing limestone of off-white color with darker inclusions and pinkish tinged areas. Superb scholar’s object, beautiful patina on the surface of the stone, flattened bottom, fitted rosewood stand. Height with stand 3 1/2 inches, length with stand 8 1/4 inches.

Japanese multi metal engraved plaque depicting two piebald puppies investigating a rhinoceros beetle among tufts of grass and bamboo. Superb quality work, great sense of volume to their chubby bodies, wonderful puzzled faces, crisp carving, gilding and differently colored patinas, in perfect condition. Beautifully framed (have not been examined out of the frame). Signed GORO followed by a gilded seal. View in sight 5 5/8 x 6 7/8 inches, frame size 7 1/8 x 8 3/8 inches.

Vintage Japanese woven bamboo ikebana basket with four woven “feet” forming a square on the bottom, squat round body and long neck, excellent for use in tea ceremony or flower arrangement. Superb piece made in Karamono (Chinese, more formal than Japanese) style with shape and execution of the weave in regular rows. Finely woven smoked narrow bamboo strips, rich warm patina from smoking process and age, black lacquered bamboo insert. The basket is in excellent shape...

Japanese multi metal engraved plaque depicting an actor dressed in a rich robe wearing a demonic mask and a long red colored wig surmounted by a twisting dragon decoration. The actor represents Ryujin, the Dragon God of the Sea, and most likely is performing in the Noh play, KASUGA RYUJIN “The Dragon God of Kasuga Shrine”. Superb quality work with crisp carving, gilding and differently colored patinas, in perfect condition. Beautifully framed (have not been examined out of the frame)...

Netsuke of standing Jurojin holding a turtle on his hand. Jurojin is one of 7 Gods of Good Fortune, that of longevity, and the turtle - one of his usual companions - is also associated with longevity. The netsuke is essentially a wish for long life. Very nicely carved, great level of detail and perfectly captured facial expression, expert staining. Signed SEIGYOKU on the back - for a discussion of the artist see CONTEMPORARY NETSUKE by Miriam Kinsey, p. 226. Height 1 7/8 inches.

Japanese scroll with 3 mounted paintings done by 3 different artists - a running boar in ink on silk, a carp leaping out of a pond in ink and colors on silk, and a scholarly landscape in ink and colors on paper. Fantastic quality paintings, delicate use of ink washes and colors, each is signed and sealed by the respective artist. Silk mounts, rosewood scroll ends, in excellent condition, superb painting for display during tea ceremony...

Netsuke carved by Ryoshu (born in 1912) - one of the best Japanese netsuke carvers of the 20th century. Netsuke represents a doll of Daruma (founder of Zen Buddhism) enveloped in monastic robe, and his eyes can pop in and out. Perfectly captured facial expression, beautifully incised and etched facial hair and 3 flowering chrysanthemums on his robe. It appears that the artist etched a different design on every piece of this model of his - see the other Darumas by Ryoshu on my site...

Marine material netsuke of an owl sitting on a tree stump with new branches and leaves. Excellent quality detailed carving, wonderful face with somewhat puzzled expression, beautiful depiction of differentiated feathers, pleasant patina, eyes are inlaid with black horn. Signed MASAMITSU on the bottom, wonderful netsuke by a master carver. Height 1 5/8 inches.

Japanese scroll painted with ink and colors on silk depicting a spotted stag by a stream among reeds under a moon about to be obscured by clouds. Great composition with alert beast looking into the background hidden in beautifully depicted mist. Wonderful quality realistic painting, superb brushwork - see the detailing of hairs on its coat. Paper and silk mounts, wooden scroll ends. Signed GANEN and marked with red paste seal. Scroll size 68x19 inches, painting size 40x16 inches.

Netsuke carved by Ryoshu (born in 1912) - one of the best Japanese netsuke carvers of the 20th century. Netsuke represents a doll of Daruma (founder of Zen Buddhism) enveloped in monastic robe, and his eyes can pop in and out. Perfectly captured facial expression, beautifully incised and etched facial hair and 3 flowering chrysanthemums on his robe. It appears that the artist etched a different design on every piece of this model of his - see the other Darumas by Ryoshu on my site...

Rather unusual 1930s Japanese porcelain covered inkstone with underglaze decoration. The side of the base is inscribed with a very long text, the top of the cover has a short poem and a figure of a man in robe lighting his pipe from ambers in the brazier. Possibly Arita ware, very nice modeling of the central raised area with rougher side surface for grinding ink, remnants if dried ink in the well...

Netsuke carved by Ryoshu (born in 1912) - one of the best Japanese netsuke carvers of the 20th century. Netsuke represents a doll of Daruma (founder of Zen Buddhism) enveloped in monastic robe, and his eyes can pop in and out. Perfectly captured facial expression, facial hair and mandarin duck decoration on his robe beautifully incised and etched with ink. It appears that the artist etched a different design on every piece of this model of his - see the other Darumas by Ryoshu on my site...

Vintage Chinese sculpture of a resting horse with its head raised and turned back, carved out of solid amethyst. Beautiful stone ranging from typical amethyst purple to rock crystal transparent, natural lines in the material. Very good quality carving capturing the essence of the creature, excellent finish, very pleasant to hold. Length 2.85 inches.

Original limited edition silkscreen print “WATER BUFFALO” by Hideo Takeda (born 1948) from the Altamera series - one of a set of 10 prints each depicting an animal skeleton. Printed in 1994, signed by the artist in gold crayon and numbered 94 from of the edition of 120. The series name refers to the Cave of Altamira in Cantabria, Spain known for its Upper Paleolithic paintings of wild animals...

Original limited edition silkscreen print “SIX-BANDED ARMADILLO” by Hideo Takeda (born 1948) from the Altamera series - one of a set of 10 prints each depicting an animal skeleton. Printed in 1994, signed by the artist in gold crayon and numbered 94 from of the edition of 120. The series name refers to the Cave of Altamira in Cantabria, Spain known for its Upper Paleolithic paintings of wild animals...

Vintage Chinese jade carved plaque with oval recessed area depicting Boddhisattva Guanyin in low relief, and the rest of both front and back covered with Chinese characters spelling the Lotus Sutra. Beautiful true nephrite jade of delicate celadon color...

Vintage Japanese incense stick container carved out of kurogaki (black persimmon) wood, the body with dense leaf design, and the cover with fine lattice design and an oval reserve containing the the character FUKU (happiness. Excellent sharp work, very pleasant to handle, the cover fits neatly, beautiful patina. Very good object for a scholar’s desk. Length 9.25 inches.

Ceramic chawan (tea bowl) for tea ceremony with multifaceted outside and enso circle shape foot. Unusual piece made in marbled technique with resulting surface perfectly imitating twisted patterns of a burl wood. The effect is achieved by laminating different colored clays together and throwing them on a wheel to develop a swirling and spiraling effect...