Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian (334)

This is a large simple elegant brushpot, also known as a scrollpot. It is 19.5 cm, and the diameter is 21.5 cm The mark on the pot reads Zheng Da Guang Ming ; Honest and Openhearted.

This very nice small box has at least two uses. First, we have added a cord to it and it can be used to carry small things around, from the belt. Without the cord it becomes a ventilated small container. It can be used to hold incense bits before burning. It can be used to hold a cricket before sending it out. It is a fine container. Panel 3 before adding the cord: this is a small hole in the top to allow ventilation for either a cricket or incense...

This is most complex toggle I think I have ever seen: Two frogs, one fish and 2 lotus sees pods, one with the seeds moving. Boxwood. approx 6 cm long and 6 cm high. Probably boxwood. Absolutely unique. the back of the toggle has two lotus stems wound like a rope from the two lotus seeds' pods. There is something else There It is also a new Lotus growth with a new lotus bud coming out of it It is till a bud. there are 3 pair of holes for running a cord through; we have used only 1 pair...

This is an ugly little Lingzhi fungus It is old as the hills. I have sold a large one last year to a scholar in the US. This one is older , smaller, uglier -- and GREAT. It would have been used as a desk decorative object OR long ago chopped up to be used in Chinese medicine.

This is a substantial scroll pot. It is about 100 years old, beautiful grained, elm wood (yu mu in Chinese). This is not for "snobs" but for people who will appreciate the lovely grain, who will need the size and will appreciate the care and wear this pot has. It is not in perfect condition, it has been noticeably but nicely repaired. The bass clips inside haven been well affixed. There are few other defects in the pot, all easily seen. But it is in good shape and will last another 100 years...

This is a dynamically created mythical animal. He is writhing in front of us, his tongue is moving noisily. The maker's mark in the bottom is that of Chen Mingyuan who lived in the early Qing dynasty, flourishing in the Kangxi period (1661-1722). This piece is in the style of Chen but not his. A distinguished colleague wrote: "The dog is very cute but almost certainly not by Mingyuan...

Raising and training crickets to do battle with other crickets is a North China past-time. To do it right: one needs nets to catch and "picks" to pick them up to put in the net. One needs ticklers kept in a tube to get them into fighting form. Here we show a very good bamboo tube for storing the ticklers and some "picks". The tickler should be a very thin piece of zitan with rat's hair affixed to the end: that hair is supposed to arouse the cricket.

This is a very special Year of the Ox animal; it is modeled on the Bronze Ox originally placed in the Yuan Ming Yuan palace outside Beijing in the Qing dynasty The head was stolen in the 19th Century by invading armies. Originally there the heads of all 12 Zodiac animals were at the Yuan Ming Yuan. In recent years, several of the heads taken away in the 19th Century have returned to Beijing. This wooden is a wonderful exotic ox, just the thing for your Year of the Ox friends...

This is a zitan inkpaste box. These are in principle not rare: but ones in such fine condition are virtually impossible to buy in Beijing now. Only ones all broken and chipped the condition of this is very good just a few chips on the inter rim. . It is carved to look like a section of a tree trunk The nodes of the tree, the little branches on the bottom are very realistically carved.

This is a substantial Boxwood (huangyangmu) brushpot. It dates from the 19th Century, either 1890 or 1830. It is plain and elegant with semblances of a pine tree and a full cicada. Condition is very good with one crack due to dryness. The full inscription of the theme and the name of the calligrapher are on the base. Mr. Chen of that era signed the pot and probably did the work. Chen Ruizheng wrote the calligraphy in the base.

I have been collecting toggles for many years. I have never seen a genuine shar pei dog as a toggle. The whole workmanship is so realistic. For all your shar pei dog lover friends. The wrinkles in the fur coat are so well done.

This is a very nice porcelain brushpot

This is a Ming dynasty treee root carving. The woood has all patrified This ia a tripod stand in the form of a 3-legged Chan. The 3 characteres easily visible mean "The Chan Self-Strengthens".

This is a very attractive box for holding a large-ish seal. Excellent condition. The top slides easily in and out of its grooves. Just the thing for the scholar official who has everything.

Three Mid-Qing elm altar tables. Sold As is Where Is. Not in any way repaired or refinished. These 3, maybe 4, tables are sold to any buyer as they are sold in Beijing. No refinishing. As is Where is. The buyer then can be assured he is getting a truly old piece and then can re-finish or not as desired. Such work can be done easily enough here in Beijing. An example of a table I have re-finished is sewn below. It is old but has been cleaned up.

This is a beautifully proportioned miniature altar table of elm. It has everted flanges, the ends which "curl" upward. The carpentry is splendid: all pieces are cut to fit. The grain is very good throughout. This table, when purchased many years ago, was covered with the grime of the ages, some call this patina. After cleaning a "new" patina has emerged and the table looks splendid. L 77 cm; W is 22 cm; H 39 cm, but at the flanges: 41.5 cm.

This miniature altar table was made in the western part of Beijing about 200 years ago. One might say it looks it! It is actually rough but in good condition.

The 3 legged Chan is a mythical Chinese animal. It is normally seen with another mythical figure, Liu Han. Here, we have a very large tree root Chan: the original shape of the root has been kept, just a little enhancement here and there. The Chan is large and imposing: it is sitting on a lotus leave and crouching, ready to jump at a moment's notice. Its appearance is rough, but the total effect is one of strength and vitality. The face of the Chan is at first glace quite ugly...