Catalog (189)

A Chinese cloisonné and champlevé enamel jardiniere. Early 19th century. The jardiniere is of globular form with three circular medallions enclosing birds and butterflies against a floral and gilt ground. These roundels are set against a scrolling lotus ground. The inside is counter-enamelled in turquoise blue. There is evidence that solder was used sparingly in the manufacture, this technique is associated with earlier manufacture and a practice that had largely died out by the later 19th cen...

A pair of Chinese ritual altar vessels for the Sun Altar, Qing dynasty.

The ritual vessels, bian, are made from fine strips of woven bamboo, the inner surfaces completely covered in lacquer. The earliest illustration of this form is from a Song period reproduction of a Han dynasty publication.

Bian of this exact design were used in offering ceremonies at the Qianlong Court and described and illustrated in ‘Huang chao li qi tu shi’ ( A pictorial guide to the ritual vessels of th...

A Remarkable Indian or East Asian offering Bowl on Stand, late 19th or early 20th century.

The bowl is cast and then finished by fine chisel work and engraving, all against an intricate punched ground. It features a myriad of hunters and animals, the trees seem full of game. On the hilly horizon can be seen various dwellings and pavilions, tiny birds in the sky. The base is an arrangement of three elephant heads supporting an acanthus cup on which sits the offering bowl.

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A large and very attractive vase by Taizan, delicately painted in coloured enamels and gilding with two continuous fields of decoration, the neck with irises above a cloud band of floral trellis pattern, a swathe of scrolling foliage between formal borders. The base signed Dai Nihon Taizan sei and impressed Taizan.

Approximately 30.7 cm high. This vase appears to have had a charmed life, the enamels, and especially the gilding, are in an exceptional condition.

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A thick-walled censer, shaped like an urn with “Heaven soaring” handles, standing on a three legged base. Both censer and base have been polished in the past but are now achieving a decent patina. The censer fits the base perfectly. The base has an interesting mark. 19th century.

Approximately 19 cm diameter, 22 cm high (on stand). In good condition overall with only some signs of use on the belly of the censer to report. The censer and stand weigh 4.3 kg.

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An unusual lacquered flower vase, hanaike, by the eminent bamboo artist Tanabe Chikuunsai II ( 1919~2000 ). The black lacquered bamboo vase is decorated in vermillion lacquer with a sago palm and is also signed. The vase is complete with its original blue cotton bag and a signed and inscribed box.

Chikuunsai I began the family tradition of making fine bamboo crafts in 1890, it still flourishes today under the direction of Tanabe Chikuunsai III.

Approximately 30 cm high. Fine...

An unusual Japanese Satsuma koro in the form of a barrel, the body decorated with symbols of good fortune & longevity, the white metal lid, pierced and engraved with a bird in flight amongst flora, the base with artist signature with Shimizu mon and seal.

Approximately 14cm high x 11cm wide. Fine condition with only some minuscule wear to the gold enamel on the top surface to report.

Please study the photographs.

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An ivory snuff bottle in the form of of an attractive lady of status carrying a fan. The head can be removed to reveal the snuff. Probably Japanese work for the Chinese market at the end of the 19th century.

Approximately 9.2 cm high. In very good condition with only a little chipping to the back of the collar, noted in the photographs. A few age cracks as normal with this material and light wear from handling.

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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...

A Japanese porcelain “100 Boys” plate, 18th century.

This unusual plate was made in Arita between 1720 and 1760. It shows a hall crammed with boys, an elevated youthful figure surrounded by attendants, two of which are carrying fans. To me it looks like the interior of a temple with children depicting the abbot and gathering of monks. Above the Abbot can be found a sign, Hyakushindo, “The Hall of 100 Children.” ( Baizitang in Chinese ).

This design is copied from a Chi...

A rare Chinese enamel on copper medallion bowl decorated with three red-crowned cranes each holding a lingzhi, against a pink background. The interior with flowering peony. 18Th ~ 19th century.

The medallion bowls, three roundels against a coloured background, were produced in porcelain from the Qianlong reign to the Daoguang in the main, this bowl appears to be the enameller’s answer to the challenge.

Approximately 12.5 cm diameter. The bowl has had a slight knock to the e...

A well-carved ivory snuff bottle depicting two of the sixteen Buddhist Arhat. The bottle is undoubtedly carved in Japan as the neck is made from a separate piece of ivory and screws into the body of the bottle. The carving style suits the subject matter and the bottle has a pleasing patina from handling. There is an unidentified studio marking on the base.

Approximately 5.7 cm high. Perfect condition.

Please study the photographs.

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Manufactured specifically for export to Europe sometime during the first half of the 18th century. The cutout, rather small in this case, is to allow the bowl to fit comfortably under the chin when the barber is wielding the razor. Barbers at that time also provided a service to the medical profession by bleeding patients and these bowls are sometimes called 'Bleeding Bowls'. The two holes in the rim, pierced before firing in the kiln, are for suspension cords so tht the bowl could be displayed ...

Family name Kanō Morizumi, Gō: Tanrei. Japanese style painter. Studied under Kanō Tambi Moritaka. After the Restoration, active as a Kanō painter; showed at several exhibitions sponsered by the government, receiving prizes. Member of the committee of the Nihon Bijutsu Kyōkai and Nihongakai. Produced a number of paintings for imperial buildings. ( from ‘A Dictionary of Japanese Artists. Laurance P. Roberts, Wetherhill, 1977.) He also founded the Kano-kai (Kano Associati...

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...

A fine carved and painted marble sculpture of the Hindu deity Ganesha, the elephant-headed god. He is holding his war axe in one hand, an elephant goad, ankusha, in another. A further holds a rosary and the last holds a sweetmeat. A hooded cobra supports his trunk and a large rat nibbles his foot. From northern India, mid 19th century.

Approximately 6.5/8 inches (17 cm) high, 3.7/8 inches (10cm) wide. For this genre the sculpture is in unusually good condition, most are found badly ...

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.

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A fine Arita blue & white porcelain flower vase to be mounted on a wall, kakehana. 18th century.

The flower vase is heavily moulded with a leaping Chinese Lion or karashishi in a landscape of rocks and Tree Peonies, a classic subject in Japanese art known as “Botan-ni-Shishi”, an auspicious subject.

This old kakehana was manufactured in Arita in the mid Edo period, probably for the home market.

Approximately 16.7 cm high. A tiny glaze chip on the mouth-rim,...

A Chinese jade toggle carved as a crouching shi-shi, the stone of a pale grey-green colour. Nice lustrous polish. 18th / 19th century.

Approximately 4.5cm long. Fine condition

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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.

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A small Japanese Satsuma koro with a pierced metal cover by an unknown maker, late 19th century. The vase is decorated with the Imperial chrysanthemum crest and three family crests, including the Paulownia of the Toyotomi clan, the Hollyhock leaves of the Tokugawa shoguns and the cross of the Shimazu clan who ruled over Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga.

At the top corners can be found quarter-flower heads delicately painted in red and gold. Each mon is finely detailed. The metal lid might ...

The stone has a lustrous patina and has a very dramatic ‘splash’ of red on both sides. It has never been carved with a designation and the base has now a shallow flake as a result of an impact on the edge, with a little powdery material showing. Further along there is a tiny bruise to the edge. These could be taken out by reducing the length by 0.4cm. Personally the chip does not worry me. In this example the red is really very strong, like a fashionable lipstick.

Approximately ...

A striking porcelain double gourd vase by the eminent Kutani potter Matsumoto Saichi V The tall shape has four raised ribs on the matt buff/white glazed body, the bottom gourd boldly painted with sets of green stripes on a tan ground. The buff/white glaze is curious, on close inspection it looks like crushed oyster shell. Signed on the base. The vase comes with its original signed and inscribed box.

Approximately 31.7 cm high. The vase and box are both perfect.

Matsumoto Saich...

A Japanese palace scene painted by an unknown painter of the Tosa School, circa 17th century.

The Tosa School was founded in the Muromachi Period of the 15th century, and its painting was devoted to the aristocracy and its lifestyle.

Painted in pigments including silver leaf and black lacquer on paper. The fan is mounted on a paper backing sheet.

Approximately 49 cm. maximum length. 18.2 cm. width. Generally in good condition, wrinkled corners. A few extraneous m...

The design of butterflies and melons is seldom encountered on Chinese porcelain, found only on a few Qianlong pieces. This shaped dish I feel is from the early 19th century but the ‘orange peel’ surface of the porcelain is often found on Qianlong export pieces. Like the Qianlong painted melons these have a pronounced ‘spotting’ in either famille rose or gold enamel on the fruits. 

Approximately 20.6cm across, 6.4 cm high. Perfect condition with no frits, chips, cracks or rest...

A Japanese baluster vase painted with two scenes, separated by brocaded curtains. The neck in imitation of a cloth cover also featuring two Shimizu mon. The painting is quite remarkable; please remember when you look at the detail photographs that the vase is just a tad under six inches tall. Within the foot-rim is an extensive signature that begins…Satsuma, and is followed by two lines, one ending Sei (made) and the other Ga (drew) so this vase might prove to be the work of two artists.

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A very large plate decorated with a kylin surrounded by panels of cranes among pine and prunus trees, separated by formal lotus flowers.

Just a tad under 41 cm diameter. No cracks, chips or restoration. Some light wear from use.

Stand not included.

Please study the photographs.

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A fine and large stoneware dish by Sakuma Totaro (1900~1979). Decorated with a flowering plum tree against a transparent ash glazed ground. The back is plain and glazed with a clear ash glaze. Mid 20th century.

The original wood storage box (tomobako) lid is inscribed in ink with a title and the signature of the potter with his red seal.

First son of Sakuma Fukujiro, a mingei potter in Mashiko, Totaro studied ceramics with his father. The potter met Hamada Shoji who visited M...

An underglaze blue and polychrome enamelled Arita bowl and saucer with panels of chrysanthemums supported by canes that suggest crucifixes, separated by panels of bird and trellis design. Early 18th century.

The cup is approximately 8cm diameter, the saucer is 14.8cm diameter. Perfect condition.

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An Ai-Kutani plate, Arita circa 1700. Decorated in underglaze blue with various molluscs amongst seaweed clad rocks. The back is plain with three spur marks within the foot-rim. Overall the glaze has a blue tinge.

Approximately 18.8 cm diameter. Perfect condition.

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A well finished bronze figure of the infant Krishna, in the act of stealing pats of butter from his mother's kitchen. It's from India, probably from 18th century South India.

Approximately 7 cm long, 8 cm high. Fine condition.

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A Chinese Yixing stoneware incense burner in the form of Budai, laughing as usual, grasping a small pile of cash. The stoneware has been attractively enameled with flowers and a Shou medallion decorates his back. The base has an impressed maker’s mark. 19th century.

The incense burner is in two parts, Budai sits on a large cushion, this base features a pierced disc for the insertion of joss sticks.

Approximately 15.5 cm high. From the exterior the burner is in perfect condition. ...

An interesting and inventive sculpture of a performing elephant balancing upon a ball whilst supporting an acrobat with his trunk. The sculpture is solid bronze and cast in the lost wax technique, cire perdue. This method is able to faithfully reproduce all of the quirky textures that the artist has chosen. The sculpture is mounted on a white marble base and is, as far as I can see, unsigned.

Approximately 33cm high. Fine original condition. The weight is 3478 gm.

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A fine woven tonkotsu, 19th century.

Deftly woven with very thin strips of bamboo then lacquered to strengthen and waterproof. The cord guides and knop are cleverly integral and remain complete and in good condition. Within the lid there is a maker's 'ruyi' mark in red lacquer. This set comprising of tobacco box, agate ojime and stag horn netsuke must have been brought back from Japan as a souvenir and perhaps kept in a cupboard, it is, except for some slight wear, in perfect condition. ...

A painting in gouache on paper depicting Krishna as a seven year old boy in dancing costume. In this form he is known as Shri Nathji. This distinct tradition emanates from Nathadwara in Rajasthan and these paintings were probably intended for domestic shrines. 19th century.

Gouache and metallic pigments on paper. The grey scarf is silver pigment, now tarnished. A very subtle effect is the decoration in grey on the black ground, seen clearly only under a strong light.

Appro...

A Chinese white porcelain snuff bottle, probably Dehua, known in the West as ‘Blanc de Chine’. The moulded body, each side decorated with a central roundel of flowers surrounded with a pair of bats and a Shou character. The stopper, missing its spoon, appears to be faded purple stained soapstone. The thin body is very translucent and inside there are traces of former contents.

Approximately 5.8cm high. Perfect condition.

Please study the photographs.

Within the ...