Catalog (368)

This pair of soft paste porcelain ovoid jars are decorated in underglaze cobalt blue of a strong sapphire tone. Both jars are decoarted with identical designs of foo lions at play with various stylized cloud elements filling in the background. Surround the neck is a thin line design that forms a six-pointed star when viewing straight down from the top. The necks of both jars are unglazed and originally would have had dome-shaped lids. The bases of both jars display well-written horizontal six-character Kangxi marks surrounded by double circles. The jars are covered in a clear glaze with a very fine crackle that has darkened with age, and over the buff colored body yields a pleasant creamy tone against the blue. The interiors are also fully glazed. Overall, both jars are in very good condition without cracks or restorations. There is a tiny glaze bumb from the firing on one. The footrings are unglazed and have darkened from age and use. Some staining on the necks is present from use. Purchased in Kyoto in the mid 1970s.

Height: 5 ¼ in., Diameter: 4 1/8 in. (both)

This bowl is decorated overall in various colors of overglaze enamels both inside and out. The base shows the original blue-green clear glaze with only the footring exposed, revealing the white paste and having some sand adhering from the firing. Made for the Thai market, the bowl's exterior displays images of Thepanom and Norasingh against a black enamel ground with stylized flames. The bowl has damages as seen in the photos, with Japanese old gold lacquer restorations to breaks and a small rim chip. There is a chip to the interior of the footring and another short crack extending from the rim for about an inch and a half. The bowl shows considerable wear from age and use and is priced accordingly.

Height: 3 1/8 in., Diameter: 6 in.

This lidded box is enameled with a floral pattern on the lid and four sides. The various colored flowers are arranged against a turquoise blue ground with an overall background of geometric pattern of cloisons The exposed metal that is not enameled is gilded both inside and outside the box with the gilding having mostly worn off the wires of the flowers and background from age and use. The interior of the box and lid are all turquoise enamel as is also the exterior base. There are two areas of restoration to the enamel on the bottom and side of the interior, and also a small nick to the lid interior and some cracks to the base. The exterior enamels are in good condition with no repairs or restoration. There is a slight indentation on the long side at the far right blue flower.

Length: 4 ¾ in., Width: 3 3/8 in., Height: 2 in.

This very slightly flaring turned huang huali wood brush pot has a well-figured grain and a honey brown tone. The interior has blackened with age and use. It retains its original plug in the base, with it having having some losses to the edges. The exterior base appears to be dark lacquered with some tinges of red showing through. This piece is a well-used scholar's item. It is in generally good condition. Acquired in the early 1980s from a Raleigh, North Carolina estate.

Height: 4 ½ in., Diameter: 3 5/8 in.

This clear quartz stone is carved in the form of a mountain with tall peaks to accommodate five or six small calligraphy brushes. The front has a “ruyi” carved in low relief among rocky outcroppings across its slightly convex facade. The backside is flat and uncarved and reveals the natural flaws in the clear stone. It has a soft polish overall and an even wear. Acquired in Osaka, Japan in the 1970s.

Height: 1 ½ in., Length: 3 3/8 in., Width: ½ in.

This celadon jade cup has two handles, a slightly pronounced rim, and is set on a raised foot. The body is carved with three lines of raised knobs along the sides, with two straight, vertical handles on opposite sides. The stone is of a very light translucent celadon tone with a whitish patch that has a reddish-brown outline near the foot. The base of one handle has an indented and polished area, and a carved line under the overhang of the handle. The other handle has a more squared base, with no carved line under the overhang. A small dark inclusion can be seen on the interior well of the bowl. Overall, it is in good condition. Acquired from a Virginia estate around 1990.

Length across handles: 4 ¼ in., Diameter of bowl: 2 5/8 in., Height: 1 3/8 in.

This wrist rest is carved in low relief of an official and his attendant in an architectural setting. The carving is well executed with precise line incising. It has an overall reddish brown patina and a slight blackish stain from ink on the official's hand and just above it. The underside shows approximately the same patina, while the cut edges have darkened with use. As an essential item for the scholar's table this piece remains in good condition with its original patina from use. Purchased in a Chapel Hill, North Carolina estate in the early 1980s.

Length: 10 ¼ in., Width: 2 ¾ in.

The central design of a stylized garden scene is surrounded by four peach-shaped cartouches in red, green, and gold enamels on a ground of underglaze cobalt blue plum blossoms highlighted in gold enamel. The reverse is encircled by underglaze blue chrysanthemums and a ring of enameled decoration around the foot. A spurious Chinese six-character Jiajing is written in underglaze blue on the base encircled by a single line of blue. An iron impurity in the clay has left a brown spot on the base. There is fine sand adhering to the foot from firing. The gilded mouth rim exhibits typical wear. Overall very good condition – no chips cracks or restorations. Acquired in Japan in 1975.

Diameter: 8 3/8 in., Height: 1 ½ in.

This panel displays a scene of two people in a landscape setting, one holding a flute and the other holding a fan. It was later bordered with a black silk band which has slightly separated from the panel in two areas at the top and bottom, as seen in the photographs. There are also some old stains that have little effect on the image.

Height: 13 ½ in., Width: 8 ½ in.

This small, double-doored black lacquered shrine contains a carved and gilded sandalwood image of a Bodhisattva sitting on a lotus throne. The gilding is original and is worn from age and use. There are also some losses to the lotus leaves. The two doors are attached by small gilt bronze hinges and a brnze ring is affixed to the top for attachment to a garment belt. Acquired in Kyoto, Japan in 1973.

Height: 4 in., Width: 2 in., Figure height: 3 in.

This shallow form bowl is decorated in a famille rose palette with vibrant overglaze enamels in the standard pattern known in the West as pseudo tobacco leaf. The form and paste of the dish is that of the Qianlong Period. There are some small nicks to the rim from use and a tiny rim nick infill. A small oval glaze crack shows on the front rim with a tiny associated restored chip. Otherwise, it is in good condition with only minor wear to the enamels. Acquired from an heir of the Ira and Nancy Koger collection.

Diameter: 8 ¾ in., Height: 1 ½ in.

Each vase is decorated overall with various flowers on a medium-blue enamel ground within a continuous geometric fretwork pattern of gilt wires. Both the rim and base is gilded, now having some wear showing on each vase. The square area on the base is left from an old sticker removed in the past. Both vases have a melon form label body with a flaring mouth rim that is partially gilded inside. The interiors are not enameled and the old bronze has taken on a grayish patina. The condition of both is good, without dents or apparent damages. There is some of the expected pitting to the enamels and wear to the gilded cloison wires, mouths and bases.

Height: 10 in., Width: 6 ¾ in.

This lidded jar is painted with two lion dogs frolicking among peony flowers, all on an imperial yellow ground. The lid is similarly decorated with a single peony bloom. Both the interiors of the jar and lid are unglazed showing the fine white paste. The inset base is covered in a thin clear glaze with an incised double ring. The footring is unglazed and there is minor soiling to it and to the interior of the jar. The condition is good, without damage or restoration.

Height: 7 5/8 in., Width: 6 in.

The exterior of this bowl is painted overall in famille verte enamel colors of predominantly greens, with some yellows, blue, aubergine, iron-red and black. Three cartouches of people in a landscape setting are surrounded by various flowers on a dotted background that is covered overall in a pale green transparent enamel glaze. The interior is glazed white. The footring is glazed white with the foot unglazed to expose the dense porcelain body. The base is recessed and glazed. There are a few pinholes and minor glaze flaws, and some small chips and rim fritting. There are no cracks.

Width: 9 1/8 in., Height: 3 ¾ in.

This stoneware dish is shaped in the form of an oval tray with straight walls, raised on four molded feet. It is glazed overall with a semi-transparent brownish-amber glaze with areas of faint purples and reds. An unglazed area in the center of the base is brush painted with six Chinese characters in iron slip glaze. Some kiln cracking is present on one end and the typical wear for an item of this age and use is evident on the feet and areas of the glaze. There are no restorations. The dish was possibly used for a miniature landscape.

Length: 11 in., Width: 8 in., Height: 3 3/8 in.

This melon-form biscuit porcelain pot is mostly covered in rich yellow enamel glaze with green enamel used to pick out the leaves and stem. A low foot with dark enamel glaze supports the melon on its side, and an opening is carved in the top to receive the water and brush. There is an old hairline crack that runs from the opening down the side for about an inch and there is a small chip on the side of the opening, but it is still completely usable as a brush washer.

Height: 2 in., Length: 2 5/8 in.,Width: 2 in.

Originally used as a traditional folding fan, its creases are clearly visible as is also the wear and paper losses, particularly along the edges. The painting was removed from its bamboo supports many years ago and mounted on a scroll or screen. The mounting can be seen on the back and is also visible as a thin border along the front edges, and remnants of a mulberry paper backing are lightly attached to the back on top of the old scroll mounting paper. The scene is of two women in a garden. One holds a fan while the other is involved in writing with her calligraphy implements laid out on the stone in front of her. The colors – pinks, blues, reds, green and yellow, all pleasantly muted with age, are brushed onto an aged brownish yellow background.

Length: 17 ½ in., Height: 6 ¼ in.

These cups all have slightly flaring sides and are well-potted with thin rims. The sides are decorated with a repeating floral design in underglaze cobalt blue. The bases are glazed and the narrow footrings are unglazed, exposing the fine, white porcelain body. A hairline crack can be seen on the one of the cups, approximately one inch long, otherwise they are in good condition.

Height: 2 ¾ in.. Diameter: 3 1/8 in.