Catalog (40)

This figure of a seated scholar is glazed turquoise with amber colored highlights. The back is mostly unglazed except for the original white slip coating, now darkened with age. The interior is hollow and unglazed, exposing the reddish clay body. The white slip coating continues for an inch or so into the interior cavity. The face is covered with a thin white slip (now darkened) but is otherwise unglazed. The turquoise glazed hat has a few old losses to the glaze where it has flaked , and another small, old glaze flake to the upper right arm. There are no cracks or restorations and it is generally in good condition. Acquired in the early 1980s from a Northern Virginia dealer.

Height: 8 ½ in., Width: 5 in., Depth: 2 ½ in.

This figure of a guardian foo dog is of a natural rich brown unglazed ceramic with white glazed eyes, eyebrows, teeth, claws, and a line of spots on the spine. It is very well-modeled by hand with a highly expressive face and jaws. The chocolate-colored body is also offset by a black glazed mane and tail. The modeling represents an anatomically correct male. There is a loss to the tip of one ear, as well as the tip of the tail. The left foreleg has a clean break and has been restruck. Acquired from a dealer in California in the early 1980s.

Height: 9 ¼ in., Length 7 in., Width: 4 in.

This figure is press-molded in the traditional manner of blanc de chine sculptures from late Ming times through the Nineteenth Century. It is well-modeled from highly refined, very white porcelain. The interior is unglazed revealing the fine white body. The figure has a glossy creamy white appearance from the fine, evenly-applied clear glaze. She sits with one knee slightly raised and hands concealed by the flowing robe. A beaded pendant adorns the chest. The facial features are very well modeled down to the subtle pupils of the eyes. The individual strands of hair are incised over the entire coiffure and topknot is covered by the loosely flowing hood. The figure sits in a meditative attitude with a pleasing beatific expression on her face. Several clay shrinkage cracks occur on the interior but do not extend to the exterior, which is characteristic of many blanc de chine wares. These cracks occur during the drying or firing processes and have no effect on the exterior appearance. There is a minute glaze crack on the hood that is not noticeable unless the location is known. There are a few small pinholes in the glaze also characteristic of old Dehua wares. Otherwise, very good condition with no restorations.

Height: 11 ½ in.; Width: 7 ¼ in.

This miniature vase has a whitish / buff stoneware body that is covered in a clear glaze that has areas of discoloration from pale gray to an attractive yellowish tone, likely a result from long-term burial. Three comma-shaped decorations were swiftly brushed onto the shoulder. The bottom third of the vase remains unglazed, exposing the strong stoneware body. The footring and base are likewise unglazed, and an old sticker from the early 20th Century remains attached to the base. There is a small chip to the underside of the mouthrim. Purchased in 1985 from the estate of a Chapel Hill, NC university professor.

Height: 3 3/8 in., Diameter: 1 7/8 in.

This small bottle, probably used to hold aromatic oils, rises from an unglazed foot to a swelling shoulder, then tapers inward to a narrow neck with a slightly everted mouth. It is decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with a stylized, almost abstract landscape on one side; the other side has a few brief calligraphic strokes, one of which is perhaps a bat. The base and foot are unglazed, exposing the white porcelain paste which is now somewhat soiled from age and use. Bottles such as this one are found distributed throughout SE Asia as a result of the China trade. This one was said to have been found in the southern Philippines near Mindanao. Very good condition with no damages or restorations. There are a few characteristic pin pricks in the glaze.

Height: 3 ½ in.; Diameter: 3 ¼ in.

As with most blanc de chine figures, this piece was made in a press mold in two halves, then joined together with finishing touches added before the clay was dry. The face was molded separately then attached, and the hands and ribbon were modeled by hand. It is glazed overall except for the base with a pale blue-green tinged white glaze having a slight undulating texture. Guanyin is seated on a rock covered by her flowing robe on the back and sides. The folds of the robe are indicated by carved and incised lines. The unglazed base shows the white porcelain which appears to be like that of Jingdezhen rather than Dehua. The bluish toned glaze also looks like Jingdezhen glaze, so this piece was likely not from Dehua where figures such as this one were most often produced. This piece was likely made for a small shrine. The aperture on the middle back was perhaps used for attachment or possibly for the insertion of prayers. Overall good condition with no breaks or repairs, however there is some glaze fritting in a few places on the left sleeve, the right eyelid, the top of the hood and a tiny one to the side of the nose. Fritting like this is also often seen on Jingdezhen pieces.

Height: 8 in.; Width: 3 in.

This vase has a graceful, slightly tapering long neck rising from a bulbous body – a classic Song Dynasty form, but this one was produced in the Qing Dynasty in the Song style. The dark “iron wire” crackle pattern covers the entire exterior, including the base, and extends in the the mouth. The interior is also glazed. The glaze is of a thick pale grayish-green celadon type, thinning slightly to a paler gray tone on the mouthrim and stopping just above the footring where the pale stoneware clay body has burnt brown in the firing. There is a tiny old chip on the footring and two small silvery dots side by side on the lower body where an iron impurity in the clay has bled through the glaze. The footring shows some wear from use. There are no cracks or restorations. The color is very even and the vase is very well-potted and of elegant form. Acquired from a North Carolina private collection.

Height: 9 ½ in., Diameter: 5 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.

This dish is painted in the “wu cai” manner with overglaze enamels combined with underglaze cobalt blue. The interior base has a design of flowers and rockwork surrounded by petal lappets around the well of the dish. Each petal contains an enameled flower decoration. The back of the dish is glazed white with no decoration but the petal lappets from the interior stand out in low relief on the back. The base is glazed, and the footring is unglazed, exposing the characteristic 18th century white paste. Overall, very good condition.

Diameter: 6 ½ in., Height: 1 ¼ in.

This molded earthenware vase is glazed turquoise and amber over the upper portion, leaving the lower portion and base unglazed exposing the biscuit with auspicious symbols of animals and various other elements. The glaze stops at the mouth rim and the interior is unglazed. The turquoise glaze covers various floral designs while the one panel of amber glaze on the flaring upper body reveals a human form, probably a scholar official. There are some old chips from use around the foot and some small glaze flakes overall typical of age, but generally in good condition having no repairs or cracks.

Height: 8 ½ in., Width: 4 in.

This bowl is painted overall with a floral design in orange, green, and yellow enamels with black enamel outlines. The interior rim is decorated with a similar motif, and a single flower is painted on the interior base. The foot is encircled with double lines in underglaze cobalt blue and an underglaze cobalt blue design is painted on the base. The bowl has typical rim-fritting, and there is a small chip to the interior of the foot that has been repaired, and there is some expected wear to the enamels. Acquired in Washington, DC at Kenny and Higgins Antiques, around 1980.

Diameter: 5 7/8 in., Height: 3 in.

This model of a granary, molded in two parts, has a removable lid that represents the thatched roof over the cup-like base. It is covered overall in a clear greenish glaze with areas of fine crackle and evidence of burial. The interior is unglazed, and the underside of the lid is also unglazed. This piece was used as an item of internment as an offering to the deceased for use in the afterlife. It is in very good condition overall, having small areas of red staining from burial. Acquired in Kyoto, Japan in 1974.

Height: 3 ½ in., Diameter: 3 ½ in.; Body Height: 2 ¾ in., Diameter: 2 7/8 in.

The slightly tapering form is sturdily potted and is enameled in grisaille with a bird perched on a wisteria branch amid roses toward the base. The scene, repeated on the broad sides, is reserved in a ground of yellow enamel. The narrow ends show two wisteria branches. This composition is known on other porcelains, all of which were commissioned for the Empress Dowager. The interior as well as the base are glazed white and a scrolling design in thin red enamel is painted on the four sides of the rim. The edge of the rim is gilded, but it has mostly rubbed to a pinkish tint. A key fret design in two tones of blue enamel surrounds the rim and base. The foot is unglazed and it was fired upon four tiny stilts, the remnants of which show neatly on the base. It is undamaged and in overall very good condition.

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

This molded porcelaneous stoneware figure is covered in yellow, green and aubergine enamels with black underglaze feather details. The base is unglazed. It is in good condition with some soiling from age.

Height: 7 in.

Male attendant figure made for interment to assist with the afterlife of the tomb’s upper-class occupant. Earthenware with glassy, low-fired glaze on the garment portion with some patches of silvery iridescence that have developed over time due to burial in damp tombs over long periods. This figure has an unglazed head that was originally detachable but is now fixed in place with recent adhesives. The bisque fired head has remains of pigments on the facial features and hair. There are minor flakes and chips and an old chip to the hat brim, otherwise good condition.

Height: 17 in.

These vases of tapering square form are decorated overall in famille rose and noir enamels, each having four cartouches depicting courting scenes, surrounded by geometric and floral designs. There are four smaller cartouches on the necks with scenes of scholars and young men. The rims are thinly glazed, and the bases are unglazed. There is professional restoration to the base of the neck on one vase, and a small chip to the base of the other that was also professionally restored. Otherwise, except for minor wear to the enamels, which would be expected, the condition is good. Acquired from a family collection in Asheville, NC.

Height: 11 ½ in., Width: 3 ¾ in.

This well-modeled figure of a recumbent ox is one of twelve figures representing the traditional Chinese zodiac. It is formed in grey earthenware and was originally carved in a thin slip of white clay, much of which still remains. The head is sculpted with an expressive face having large eyes and short, thick horns. The characteristic hump occurs on the back just behind the head. The legs are tucked under the sides with the hooves exposed. His long, serpentine tail twists around the right rear leg. There is a bit of burial earth still adhering and only a couple of small chips. The overall condition is very good.

Height: 4 in.; Length: 5 ¼ in.

This tea pot is inscribed with Chinese characters on one side, and has a bamboo motif incised on the opposite side. The handle and spout are sculpted to represent knotty tree limbs, and the lid is carved with leaves and stems. The maker's seal is impressed on the interior of the lid. It is in good condition and was acquired from my grandmother's antique shop in the mid 1960s.

Across spout and handle: 7 ¾ in., Height: 4 ¾ in.