Catalog (37)

This small but elegant late Qing Geyao vase is in double gourd (Hulu) shape. The green to grey glaze with a pleasing pattern of dark brown crackle lines, covers the whole vase, inside and out, with the exception of the foot rim. Size: Height: 10.7 cm. Condition: Excellent condition, with only light scratches to the glaze. Purchased in Hong Kong in 1995. Price: USD $260; CAD $350 (13% HST will be applied on all sales in Ontario.)

The Northern and Southern Dynasties (420 AD- 589 AD) are often considered the most chaotic period of time in Chinese history. However, the cultural diversification of Chinese and Non-Chinese (mainly Nomadic minorities from the north and the west) inspired the arts and cultural creations which influenced the whole of China (Zhongyuan), including the funeral industry. This tomb figure is of a typical foreigner servant or groom, standing with a distinguishing hat that only the non-Han people (Hu...

With a lustrous, light blue glaze all over, this beautiful Qingbai cosmetic box represents the high standard that Qingbai porcelain achieved in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). It is in the form of fluted chrysanthemum petals and on the cover there is a single chrysanthemum flower moulded in the centre. Diameter: 8.5 cm Condition: Excellent, no chips, no cracks. A museum inventory number on the interior of the cover. Provenance: Alderfer Auction, 2006. Price: USD $1500; CAD $1960 ...

The bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is shown standing on a lotus plinth rising from a four-legged platform, his right hand raisedin tribangha and a kamandalu ('holy water' bottle) pendent from the left hand. He is wearing a crown centered by a figure of Amitabha Buddha, and his head is surrounded by an aureole inscribed with flames, at the top of which another image of the Buddha emerges. This figure dates from the Northern Wei dynasty (6th century CE), and it’s remarkabe for the way in which, des...

A stunning piece of Qingbai porcelain like this one is rare to find nowadays. The glaze has a rich bluish green colour which offers a jade like effect. With its impressed lotus motif on the exterior of the body, this bowl is dated to the Yuan dynasty when these floral patterns were common. The incised design is very assured and full of vitality. Diameter: 15.5 cm. Condition: Good. No chips, no repairs. There is a firing crack to the rim, and discolouration to the exposed clay at the base. ...

A rare composite eye bead made during the Warring States Period, circa 481 to 221 BC. The composite type of Warring States bead is made with a thin layer of glass overlaid on a clay or ceramic material core. There are five small white glass eyes around each of the larger eyes which are made of stratified layers of blue on top of white glass. This elaborate style of bead was only made during a narrow window of time in Henan province and apparently never made again. Dimensions: width, 21mm; hei...

A rare composite eye bead made during the Warring States Period, circa 481 to 221 BC. The composite type of Warring States bead is made with a thin layer of glass overlaid on a clay or ceramic material core. This one is in especially good condition. From every aspect the frame of rich brown intersecting lines creates an almost mask-like structure for the blue and white, or yellow, raised eyes. This elaborate style of bead was only made during a narrow window of time in Henan province. Dimensi...

A rare green-glazed dragon-handled porcelaneous tripod vessel (Jiaodou) from the Yueyao kilns, eastern Jin dynasty. The head of the dragon is carved very expressively This is an extremely rare censer form that probably derives originally from a bronze shape; more examples have been found in bronze than in ceramics. The Yueyao kilns were the first in China to develop a porcellaneous body and glaze. The glaze on this example is typical of Yue production in the Jin period, a beautifully soft greyi...

These ear cups - erbei - originally coated with a green lead glaze, have developed a very attractive iridescence over many years of burial. This form, used for drinking wine, was made in a variety of different materials in the eastern Han Dynasty (25-220CE), bronze, jade, glass, lacquer, and, of course, ceramics. These two cups are moulded on the exterior with a wave pattern and a saw tooth band below the rim, imitating the decoration on a bronze model. Length: 11 and 11.5 cm. Condition: One ...

Every collector should have a few of these Ming dynasty pottery burial figures in their collection. They are such a good bargain and they tell us so much about Chinese culture. Whereas the Tang dynasty figures are always rather theatrical, these Ming(1368-1644) attendants are resolutely realistic. They remind me of the bored professional mourners one still sees occasionally at funerals today. These two musicians are very good examples, with their robes covered in a slightly iridescent crackled g...

This lovely, well potted Qingbai saucer dish with light green glaze has a central moulded decoration of two fish, swimming freely through aquatic plants. The pattern around the fish is known as Lei wen or yun lei wen (Cloud or Rolling Thunder/Cloud Pattern), it symbolized life (rain) and good wishes. Diameter: 14 cm. Condition: Good. There is some unevenness and discolouration to the rim where it would have been covered by a metal band. Price: USD $300; CAD $392 (13% HST will be applied on al...

These roughly potted Jizhou tea bowls embody the Song aesthetic and have always been highly sought after. The body is of conical form and burnt ochre at the foot. The lovely calligraphic design has a lovely freedom to it. It is splashed on in a very painterly way, representing prunus blossom with a sketchily painted moon in the sky above. These Jizhou tea bowls, along with Jian Kiln tea bowls, were of the prized tea ceremony wares among Song literati. Ex. Tse collection, Montreal; Richieâ€...

A must-have Qingbai porcelain piece. Diameter: 13.8 cm Condition: Good, no chips, no repairs. A small firing crack at the base.Price: USD $100; CAD $135 (13% HST will be applied on all sales in Canada).

Diameter: 13.97 cm Condition: Good. Two Chinese characters marked at the base: Wu Zhai. Price: USD $120; CAD $160 (13% HST will be applied on all sales in Canada).

A Tang Dynasty (618-907CE) moulded pottery figure of a sleeping duck. It is roughly made but the immediacy of the potter’s observation catches the life of the bird. Price: $260 USD; $340 CAD (HST of 13% will be applied on all sales in Canada). Height: 5 cm; width:5 cm. Condition: Intact and good with no repairs.

These Tang Dynasty (618-907CE) pottery figure groups were roughly moulded, but are full of vitality. This example has been cold painted with a white pigment over the grey low-fired pottery. Length: 14.6 cm; width: 7.9cm. Price: $400 USD; $530 CAD (HST of 13% will be applied to all sales in Canada). Condition: Intact and good with no repairs; typical wear to the pigment.

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.

Produced in the Kangxi period (1661-1722), this fine plate was intended for the export market and painted in the fashionable Japanese style. Jingdezhen's monopoly on porcelain production was broken in 1616 when Japanese potters at Arita figured out how to produce their own porcelain wares. These were exported to the outside world from the port at Imari, and their dramatic combination of underglaze blue with overglaze red and gold proved an enormous success. The demand for “Imari” wares was s...