Catalog (189)

A pair of Japanese Export porcelain models of Karashishi, the fabled Buddhist lion-dogs of Japan. Arita, early 18th century. White porcelain with iron-red enamel decoration.

Each is approximately 6.5cm high, 6cm long. The first is in fine condition with some firing lines as issued. The second has a largish chip to the tail and leans slightly.

Please study the photographs.

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An unusual Arita wall-vase, kakehana, circa 1750. The seed-shaped hollow body is moulded with trailing vines supporting a dragonfly. The painter has used two different greens, aubergine, yellow and black. The unglazed back is pierced for suspension. It is probable that this kakehana was made for the home market.

In 52 years of business I have found only two of these unusual vases, this one I kept for my collection.

Approximately 16.7cm long. Perfect condition with only a little w...

The dish is shaped in the form of a folded paper letter. Unusually it is decorated with a stenciled design of what appears to be a formal pattern of lightning behind an arrangement of stylised flowers. The back is simply decorated with pine needles.

Two dishes of very similar shape are illustrated in the Catalogue of the Shibata Collection, items 2604 and 2635, dated to 1690 ~ 1730.

Approximately 14cm wide. In fine condition. This dish has a fine scratch in the porcelain, benea...

The dish is shaped in the form of a folded paper letter. Unusually it is decorated with a stenciled design of what appears to be a formal pattern of lightning behind an arrangement of stylised flowers. The back is simply decorated with pine needles.

Two dishes of very similar shape are illustrated in the Catalogue of the Shibata Collection, items 2604 and 2635, dated to 1690 ~ 1730.

Approximately 13.8cm wide. In fine condition. In the photograph of the back the foot-rim looks a...

A set of five Japanese porcelain bowls of tapering square form, the corners with shallow concave chamfers, decorated with alternating panels of flowers and Ho-0 birds.

Each base has a ‘Fuki Choshun’ four-character mark in underglaze blue.

Two similar bowls are illustrated in the Catalogue of the Shibata Collection, #2673 and #2674. Dated to 1690~1730.

Approximately 9.5 cm square at the mouth and 6.8 cm high. One with a little very light age related non-stained crazing on...

The bowl and cover with moulded panels of shi-shi and botan, peony flowers. All against an underglaze blue karakusa ground. The cover is surmounted by a seated shi-shi.

Unusually, the coloured decoration appears to have been applied in Europe, not as ‘clobbering’ but in reserves left blank for just such painting. Sotheby’s sold a pair of jars and covers, perhaps from the same workshop, as “Japan, Edo period, 18th-19th century, the painted decoration, Piedmontese.” Sotheby’s, 1...

Bronze Krishna, South India, 18th Century.

A beautifully crafted representation of the young Krishna dancing away with the butter he has just stolen from his mother’s kitchen. Great detail in the adornments and fine condition. 18th century or earlier.

Approximately 14.5 cm high. 748 grams weight.

Please study the photographs.

Within the UK payment by bank to bank transfer is preferred.

Customers from other countries may pay by PayPal at my di...

AN OLD JAPANESE PAINTING OF MONJU BOSATSU.

Monju Bosatsu - Manjushri Bodhisattva of Wisdom. The painting appears to have great age and even though not in the best of condition it still has a compelling presence. It is painted on a composite sheet of thin paper, the joins can be seen as angled lines across the sheet and mounted as a kakemono. The painting is signed with a single seal impression in gold.

The painted area is approximately 106cm by 40.5cm. The painting has ho...

A JAPANESE EXPORT DISH, LATE 17TH CENTURY.

This fine dish is decorated with designs taken from Ming Chinese Wanli 'Kraak' wares and came about as a result of a disruption of Chinese production during a period of unrest. Dutch traders who found their Chinese trade stopped resorted to ordering from Japanese makers. The Japanese versions of these Kraak style pieces are usually thicker than the very thin Chinese Kraak wares and this has ensured their survival in often pristine condition. Thi...

The Chinese porcelain dish has a border of two repeating elements, a garlanded ruyi and three interlinked rings. The centre of the dish depicts a Chinese landscape with two scholars approaching a solitary angler. The dish was made for the Japanese where such pieces were used and much appreciated in the tea ceremony, at a time when the Japanese porcelain industry was in its infancy.

Approximately 15.5 cm diameter. No cracks or restoration, just some inevitable mushikui, “worm eaten edg...

An Early Japanese Bronze Mirror, Kagami, Circa 1600. (No.1) This bronze mirror (kagami) was almost certainly made in the Momoyama period. It has a turtle (minogame) as a central boss, pierced for a cord. It also features a pair of cranes, their beaks touching the head of the turtle as in the act of kissing. This beneath a splendid pine tree. Under the turtle is found the inscription 'Tenjō' (?) possibly meaning Heaven.

Approximately 10.4cm diameter. Many signs of wear and polishi...

A Chinese “Master of the Rocks” Saucer Dish, Kangxi, late 17th century. Typically, the decoration relies heavily on the techniques of contemporary ink painters with attention to naturalistic detail and various wet brush effects. The border of waterweed-like fronds appears on many such Master of the Rocks ceramics. The back is entirely plain.

Approximately 13.8cm diameter. There is one very shallow chip on the rim, noted in the photographs, otherwise perfect.

Please ...

Fine Japanese Arita Imari Wucai Dish c.1700. # 1 An attractively decorated dish styled after late Ming wucai enamelled wares, noted for their bold and vivid colouring. A meandering vine with various flowers surround a central kotobuki or good luck character. The back is decorated with various lingzhi motifs and within the foot-rim is a apocryphal Chinese Ming reign mark for Jiajing.

For a similar dish see pp 282-3 No 157 of the complete catalogue of the Kurita Museum where it is des...

Fine Japanese Arita Imari Wucai Dish c.1700. # 2 An attractively decorated dish styled after late Ming wucai enamelled wares, noted for their bold and vivid colouring. A meandering vine with various flowers surround a central kotobuki or good luck character. The back is decorated with various lingzhi motifs and within the foot-rim is a apocryphal Chinese Ming reign mark for Jiajing.

For a similar dish see pp 282-3 No 157 of the complete catalogue of the Kurita Museum where it is des...

A large Japanese export porcelain charger decorated with a design based upon a Ming Chinese ‘Kraak’ porcelain dish. Arita, 1680.

For a similar but smaller plate see item 12 in the Impey Collection. ‘Ko-Imari Porcelain from the Collection of Oliver Impey’, Barry Davies Oriental Art, 1997.

Approximately 28.2cm diameter. Perfect condition.

Please study the photographs.

Within the UK payment by bank transfer is preferred.

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An Arita porcelain plate (#2) decorated with a leaping carp within a moulded border based upon Chinese Ming export porcelain, ‘Kraak’ style. The dishes have faux chattering in imitation of Wanli Kraak dishes.

Arita, 1750 - 1780.

Approximately 21.5cm diameter. Perfect condition.

Please study the photographs.

Within the UK payment by bank transfer is preferred.

Customers resident in China must make arrangements to pay by International Bank Transfer in G...

A Japanese Arita Export porcelain spoon tray after a design by Frederik Van Frytom. Within the foot-rim is found an eccentrically written apocryphal Chinese reign mark, a feature seemingly of most wares the with Van Frytom designs. The shape is taken from an European silver dish and the porcelain clearly intended to be exported to the West.

A spoon tray of this design was included in a Christie’s auction in 2009.

Approximately 13.2 cm long.

Please study th...

A Japanese Export heart-shaped dish with an European harbour scene by Frederik Van Frytom. Arita 1680 ~ 1700. Frederik Van Frytom was a notable painter in 17th century Holland who was commissioned to produce Delft pottery samples for copying at Arita. This dish is a copy of one of a special set of five Delft dishes that were taken to Japan in 1684 and used in the tea ceremony. The moulded shape of the dish is reminiscent of silver tableware. Within the foot-rim is found an eccentrically written ...