Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian (73)

This is an extremely rare iron black underglaze-painted porcelaneous dish, with a design of black flowers under a crackled, lustrous glaze,Kalong, Lanna kingdom, Northern Thailand, C15-16. Most Thai collectors refer to the motif as crows or ravens, but I’m fairly sure that these are in fact a very rare orchid that grows in the mountains north of Chiang Mai and very near to Wiang Kalong - impatiens psittacina, the parrot flower (“dork geyow” in Thai)...

This finely enamelled bowl features two pheasants resting on peony branches on a rich coral ground(Yanzhihong). A Kangxi Yuzhi Mark (A mark in underglaze blue within a double square) is at the base but most likely it is a 19th century to early republic piece. Dia: 15.3 cm, H: 7.7cm Condition: Excellent, no chips, no cracks or sign of repairs.

This is a possible Jiajing piece as it has a purple undertone and no black spots, which was common for Jailing porcelain (During the Jailing period, the formula that was used to produce blue and white porcelain was generally low in iron and manganese which produced an undertone of purple). Inside this lovely bow, it depicts a scholar wearing high hat on a deer which is called “Lu Gao Sheng”. “Lu Gao Sheng” are phonograms of “deer”, “High, tall” and “To raise”...

Yuan dynasty is the time when Zaju (Variety show ) begins to take over people’s entertainment life. This adorable porcelain figure captures a Zaju character riding a horse with a typical Shusheng(Scholar, usually a young one) hat in Zaju (Later adopted by Peking Opera).This porcelain figure is well painted with variety of colour...

Snuff was introduced into China from the West in the seventeenth century and its popularity quickly engendered a new art form, the snuff bottle. This exquisite little ovoid bottle is very well made from layered opaque white/pink/white glass finely carved into an elaborate surface of lotus petals with a coiled lotus stem forming the base rim...

This large storage vessel has a fine amber glaze (Hong tao, red pottery) on the upper body. It was made during the Tang dynasty (618 AD - 906 AD), when ceramic firing technology (both low-fired and high-) was developing rapidly. It was made in a northern kiln for daily use, but even such functional objects have a strong aesthetic identity that is typical of Tang culture. Size: h: 27.5 cm, dia: 20.2 cm
 Condition: Good...

It was not until the Qing dynasty that the Jingdezhen potters finally mastered the production of this very difficult bright black enamel glaze. Unfortunately, these vases were frequently fired a third time overpainted with intricate gold enamel patterns, but the plain monochromes are much more achieved. The very elegant form of this vase with its long neck and compressed body derived ultimately from Han bronze models, and became especially popular in Qianlong times...

Ear cups were originally used only in ceremonies (Li Qi) back in the Zhou Dynasty. Later, the form became popular in Han dynasty and on into the Jin and Northern and Southern Dynasties, and it was used for wine drinking in daily life. The pair of lead glazed earcups that we also have listed were produced for burial purposes, but this example would have been used by the living. The oval body has an ear-shaped handle on both sides...

Peach-bloom glaze or apple-red (Jiangdouhong) Liuye ping was an original and major innovation of Jingdezhen ware in the Kangxi Period (1661-1722). The deep red glaze is beautifully applied all over the body, giving way to the white base layer of glaze only at the mouthrim. This small but exquisite vase shows the perfection of Liuye ping: A fine and slender boy sits on a narrow recessed base (white)...

Rank badges (Buzi, Mandarin Square) were textile panels that normally decorated the official outfits of nobles and civil and militarily officials during the Ming and Qing dynasties. This particular example has 5 bats (wu fu) symbolizing  5 blessings (a commonly used homophone in traditional Chinese culture): health, wealth, longevity, love of virtue and a peaceful death...

This cylindrical granary stands on three feet decorated with a moulded bear motif, which are often found on such containers. In the Han Dynasty, people interred these granaries in graves to provide grain for the deceased. This one is made with fine grey pottery and decorated with three sets of horizontal incised bands. Dimension: H: 24.5cm Dia: 12.5cm Condition: very good, with an aged patina and traces of ancient root growth...

A small hu-form jar with green and amber lead glaze. It dates to the Han dynasty, probably the Western Han (206BCE-9CE). These small jars are actually much less common than the larger ones, and it is rare to find them with two colours. Height: 12.4 cm; diameter: 9.4 cm. Condition: good and intact; normal wear and with the usual small chips to the glaze. Ex Anthony J. Allen. Price: USD $550; CAD $715 (13% HST will be applied on all sales in Canada)

This is a very nice example of a small Tang Dynasty (618-907CE) sancai pot for the scholar’s table at an affordable price. The glaze is finely crackled and has a slight iridescence. Diameter: 5cm. Condition: Intact and good with no repairs; normal wear for its age.

This is a good example of an utilitarian Tang Dynasty (618-907CE) jar that would have been used for storage. It is roughly but skillfully potted and the green glaze has gathered into a light blue drop that in other kilns might have been deliberately exploited so as to produce the sought-after suffused grey effect. Diameter: 5cm. Condition: Intact and good with no repairs; normal wear to the rim.

A polychrome Liao Sancai saucer dish incised with good luck cloud patterns. The dish is glazed in green, yellow and cream colours. Condition: Very good, no repair, no crack, minor glaze fritting on the side close to the rim.  Diameter: 12.00cm  Ex: I.M. Chait

This Sancai plate dated to Liao - Jin period (1115-1125), features an incised Haitang flower with open leaves around it in the centre. Begonia is the type of flower that is commonly seen in other Liao Sancai wares. The flower is coloured white with a bright red pistil surrounded by a cream glazed circle. There is no restoration...

This is quite rare. The moulded design in the cavetto shows a pattern of young boys amid vines that was popular in Song dynasty times but uncommon in these Qingbai moulded dishes that were produced at Jingdezhen in the Southern Song period (1127-1279). This bowl was probably intended to be used as a brushwasher...

This bowl is typical of the highly original porcelaneous vessels that were produced in the eighth century by the kilns at Changsha. Many were exported in large quantities to Southeast and West Asia, and some were recovered from the Belitung shipwreck, which this one probably comes from...