Catalog (189)

TWO JAPANESE WOODBLOCK PRINTS COMMEMORATING FREDERICK STARR & NOSATSU.

Frederick Starr was a professor of anthropology at Chicago University who first visited Japan in 1904 and made many subsequent visits. He wrote many papers on Japanese subjects but is probably best known in Japan for his interest in pilgrimage, he dressed in traditional pilgrim’s clothing and performed the Shikoku pilgrimage in 1917 and 1921. He became fascinated with the tradition of nailing name slips (nosatu) to te...

AN ELEGANT CHINESE PAKTONG TOBACCO PIPE, 19THC

The pipe looks a little like yellow brass in some pictures but this is a result of recent tarnishing, perhaps I should have polished it a little before taking the photographs. The base has an engraved inscription. 19th century I suspect. Especially nice is the cloud collar and the subtle shape of the base, almost peach-shape in section.

17.3/4 inches (45cm) high. Fine condition. The conical wall of the base has a slight depr...

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...

AN ATTRACTIVE CHINESE CLOISONNE MEIPING, LATE 18TH ~ EARLY 19TH C.

A miniature Chinese cloisonne meiping vase, late 18th ~ early 19th century. Bright colours and good gilding. It is apparent that the wires are soldered which is a technique associated often with earlier wares.

Approximately 7.7 cm high. Small bruise on side with missing enamel. Tiny areas within the foot-rim where enamel is missing, manufacturing fault.

Please study the photographs.

Within t...

A CHINESE FOLDING FAN.

A Chinese paper fan with bamboo sticks, the paper centre is varnished in order to stiffen the paper. The bamboo sticks are decorated with a hot point, a technique known in the West as pyrography. There is a worn out silk tassel with a large amethyst bead.

Approximately 30 cm long. The fan is in fine condition overall but one or two on the bamboo inner sticks have short splits. These could be easily strengthened with glue.

Please study the photograph...

A MUGHAL PAINTING, FLOWERS & BUTTERFLIES.

A beautiful and skilled painting of a flowering stem , painted in opaque water colour on a deep blue-grey ground. The paper is burnished on the back. India, 19th century or earlier.

Approximately 30.5 cm x 17.5 cm. Good condition but a short tear on the edge repaired with tape on the back. Slight age wear as expected.

Please study the photographs.

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A FINE ARITA KO-SOMETSUKE DISH, 18TH CENTURY.

The shallow dish with a slight foliate edge decorated with a central roundel of shochikubai, pine ; plum and bamboo, set against a ground of scrolling ivy. Within the foot-rim is found a four-character fuki-choshun mark.

Approximately 18.4 cm diameter. Perfect condition.

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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...

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 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 glass bead decorated gourd from the Maasai people in Kenya. This type of gourd is used traditionally for the mixture of milk and blood that is a staple of the Maasai diet. Early 20th century.

Approximately 24 cm long. In fine condition. Noted are half a dozen insect holes in the lid, these are old and mostly filled in. Please note that the stand is not included with this item.

Please study the photographs.

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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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From India, a tiny but fine and old bronze figure of Bhu Devi, the Earth-Goddess and second wife of Visnu. 17th century or earlier.

Approximately 7.7 cm high. Fine condition with a lovely old patina.

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A Chinese cloisonné enamel vase decorated with scrolling lotus flowers against a white ground. Early 19th century.

Approximately 13 cm high. The vase is in fine condition with only a little wax infill to report, this to a small area below the mouth rim, noted in the photographs.

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A Japanese Kyo-yaki bowl decorated with acorns and oak leaves in thick gosu blue enamel. The moulded stoneware body is probably from a Seto kiln. Meiji period.

Approximately 14.5 cm diameter, 5 cm high. Fine condition with only one shallow frit to the rim noted.

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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 oval Thewa pendant from Rajasthan in northern India. Thewa is the technique invented around 400 years ago where filigree gold designs are fused onto a coloured glass ground, then backed with silver foil. This pendant depicts prey being attacked in what looks like a palace garden. The work is very fine and I have had to show the photographs oversize to show the detail. The pendant is missing its frame but still has a small card protector and the green silk backing.

Approximately 5...

An Indian stone surahi expertly turned on a lathe from a single piece of black steatite, a variety of soapstone. It is beautifully made and very light, displaying the remarkable hollowing performed by the artisan. It relates directly to bronze and brass versions from the 18th century. With this flask is a turned alabaster bowl, also elegantly made, that has a curious slightly domed bottom. The bowl perhaps dates from the 19th century. Given the nature of the materials used these are both rare i...

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 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 old Nanban hanging flower vase, kakéhana, in its original inscribed box. The vase is in fine undamaged condition and has a good old patina. The inscription literally translates as “Nanban hanging flower vase”. The applied decoration is perhaps a depiction of a Buddhist rosary. 19th century.

Approximately 12.8 cm high.

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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.

Please...

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 ...

A French porcelain octagonal vase and cover after a Kakiemon original by Samson of Paris, 19th century. This is very close to the original as can be seen when compared to a pair of vases on ormolu stands in the Tokyo National Museum.

Approximately 21.5cm high. The top of the neck has been damaged and pieces glued into place. The stopper is also glued into the neck. Slight loss to enamels here and there.

Please study the photographs.

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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 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. ...

An Unusual Japanese Porcelain Kensui, late 18th Century.

A kensui is a pot in which the water is poured after rinsing a chawan during the tea ceremony. The enamelled design is unusual especially the bold use of iron-red. The base has a variation of the spiral fuku mark, used in the 1780’s. It is uncommon to find ceramics associated with the tea ceremony that can be safely dated to before the 19th century.

5 inches (12.7cm) diameter, 3.3/4 inches (9.5cm) high. The porcelain i...

A very unusual Arita barber’s bowl dating to the second quarter of the 18th century. The oval body is moulded and features butterflies and peonies on a ribbed ground. This form is very likely to have been based on Dutch Delft pottery or perhaps a silver example. The interior is decorated in a rather striking manner with a band of underglaze blue fishes amongst breaking waves. The reverse is decorated with prunus sprigs, and two holes to the foot-rim to allow suspension.

It is now tho...

A Japanese Imari porcelain deep dish decorated with a 'faux' armorial. Late 18th century.

Approximately 14.8cm width. The dish has light wear to the enamels from use. There is a shallow flake to the rim, noted in the photographs.

Please study the photographs.

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A Japanese porcelain dish depicting two figures in a garden. The moulded dish has a shaped edge dressed with an iron slip. Late 18th century or beginning of the 19th. A shaped dish with a similar subject is illustrated in 'Japanese Porcelain” by Soame Jenyns, Faber & Faber, 1965.

Approximately 12cm diameter. Near perfect condition, there is a tiny fleabite to one of the points on the rim, noted in the photographs.

Please study the photographs.

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A Japanese porcelain dish depicting two figures in a garden. The moulded dish has a shaped edge dressed with an iron slip. Late 18th century or beginning of the 19th. A shaped dish with a similar subject is illustrated in 'Japanese Porcelain” by Soame Jenyns, Faber & Faber, 1965.

Approximately 12cm diameter. Perfect condition.

Please study the photographs.

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A Korean pale grey porcelain offering stand. 19th century. Each stand is fired resting on another and so kiln grit, used to prevent adhesion, is left as evidence.

Approximately 12.8 cm diameter, 6.5cm high. Perfect condition.

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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 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.

I have ...

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...