Catalog (6140)

Incredibly intricate and detailed Antique Chinese table carving made predominantly of zitan wood. Deeply carved with detailed dragons and clouds on one side, phoenixes on carved lattice on the back. Dramatic hexagonal shape on intricately carved stand. Some losses but overall great condition.

Dimensions: 43" high x 37 1/2" wide x 10" deep

Antique Chinese ruyi scepter made of hardwood and three carved sections of white jade. The upper section is carved with a scene of two boys and an elephant. The middle section of jade is carved with two boys holding a large vase with flowers. The bottom piece of jade is carved with three recumbent goats, one of which holds in his mouth a curved and swirling ruyi mushroom. The scepter sits on a custom silk covered base which then sits on a carved rectangular hardwood stand. Fitted with a c...

Antique mandala thangka painting depicting a central image of Padmasambhava surrounded by various scenes of heavenly beings and fierce deities. The backside of the thangka with 3 character sanskrit inscription.

Padmasambhava is said to have lead the first Nyingma traditionalist teachings in Tibet, the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. He sits on a lotus throne, holding a vajra in his right hand and, in the other, a kapala (skull cup) filled with the elixir of ...

A pair of Quan Yi Huanghuali horseshoe back armchairs from the 18th Century. The generously proportioned curving top rail is made in five parts using half-lap pressure peg joints terminating in a curved look beyond the goose-neck side and front corner post. The back splat is carved with a Chimera medallion. The back corner posts continues through the frame of the soft mat seat to form the back legs and front legs enclosing the cusped apron carved in relief with curling tendrils. Reinforced wi...

A symbol of humility and modesty, a bed made for the scholar's hermitage aesthetics. Carved huanghuali wood in a naturalistic root form, constructed and joined together creating the enveloping roots and branches. The seat platform is of block wood fitted to mimic woven mats. These types of furniture are reminiscent of the Song dynasty. Scholars retreated into the mountains and relinquished materialism. The aesthetic is based on nature moving away from the lavish life style.

Dimen...

The Ming dynasty tradition of mortise and tenon joinery can be seen and experienced in this later Ming form day bed. The Zitan bed platform rests soundly on all four inverted horse hoof legs. Mortise corners frame the woven bamboo rattan seat cover. For added flexibility, roped lacing and carved wooden support structures help reinforce the durability of its function.

The back and side rails form a lattice-like structure called “wheel of life” pattern. The finely polished Zitan...

Antique pair of Chinese official's hat arm chairs, made of huanghuali wood with intricately woven rattan seats. Carved cusped edged apron. Dramatic grain.

Provenance: From the collection of the Santa Barbara Museum.

17th century

Dimensions: 44" high x 18 7/8" wide x 17" deep. Seat: 20 1/2" high.

Chinese pair of huanghuali wood official's hat chairs. Simply and smoothly carved with a cusped edge on the front legs. Rattan seats. Provenance: from the collection of the Santa Barbara Museum, California. (Note regarding the Museum label: little was known about Chinese hardwoods at the time this label was made. Thus the wood is mislabeled "cherry wood").

17th Century

Dimensions: 39 1/4" high x 19 1/4" wide x 17" deep. Seat: 19 1/4" high x 18 1/2" wide x 15 1/2" deep...

Chinese antique rectangular foot stand made of huanghuali wood. Classic lines and simple elegance. Underside with characters in ink and old paper label.

late 19th century

Dimensions: 6 1/4" high x 25 1/2" long x 13" wide

Chinese rare Sancai glazed pottery figure of a standing horse. The saddle pad is glazed with four colors including a rare blue. The saddle itself is covered with a vermillion slip and naturalistically modeled with sweeping folds of fabric. Most exquisite is the graceful arching of the horses neck, the slight turn of the perfectly proportioned head, and one whimsically turned back ear. With TL test papers.

Tang Dynasty 618-907

Dimensions: 21 1/2" high x 19" long

Japanese antique large censer depicting the fisherman Urashima Taro from the fairy tale, Otogi Banashi. In the story, the fisherman discovers some children on the beach toying with a turtle. Urashima Taro buys the turtle from them and sets him free. The turtle grows in size and carries Urashima Taro down beneath the sea to the Dragon Palace (Ryugu-jo) where he is met and thanked by the Princess Otohime. After a few days, Urashima Taro decides to return to the world above the sea. The pri...

Antique Chinese guan pi xiang (document box), made of huanghuali. Top opens to a tray-shaped storage area. The doors are made with dramatic huanghauli wood burl panels and open to reveal 5 drawers (4 small drawers and 1 larger one).

Republic Period

Dimensions: 18 1/2" high x 19 3/4" wide x 15 1/2" deep.

Japanese Kura samurai saddle in red lacquer, with black and gilt lacquer. The maewa (front arched plate) and shizuwa (rear arched plate) are adorned with a copper inlay flying crane. The red lacquer area surrounding the crane is hand-carved with scrolling vines of flowers and shippo pattern in gilt lacquer. The maewa and shizuwa are connected by two igi (contoured side bands). The igi rest on either side of the horse's spine and serve as the under frame for the leather seat (basen or kura tsubo...

A high grade Japanese Kura samurai saddle detailed in high relief lacquer. The maewa (front arched plate) and shizuwa (rear arched plate) display a lacquer relief carp climbing a waterfall motif. The maewa and shizuwa are connected by two igi (contoured side bands). The igi rest on either side of the horse's spine and serve as the under frame for the leather seat (basen or kura tsubo) and are slotted for stirrup straps (chikara-gawa or gekiso) to pass through. Mounted on custom stand. Signed ...

Japanese five section lacquer inro in the hiramaki-e technique. The low relief gilt lacquer adds depth throughout the landscape composition of pine forest, distant ocean, mountainous terrain, and the famous Uji bridge. The black ground lacquer also shows the use of nashiji gold flecks creating mist and cloud formation. The interior of the compartments are covered with the nashiji gold flecks, resembling a pear skin effect. The ojime bead is of sliver and gold in the form of a laughing face of Ho...

Japanese studio ware ceramic figure of the immortal, Gama Sennin. Based on the Chinese 10th century alchemist, Liu Hai, Gama Sennin is often depicted in relation to the lucky 3-legged money-toad. Gama Sennin can assume the form of a toad and can change his skin to appear young again. In this depiction of the much loved immortal, he sits on a rocky outcropping and hold in one hand a peach, in the other a small toad. Whimsically perched on his head is a large load with a spotted belly.

Me...

Chinese heavily cast figure of Ananda standing on a lotus pedestal with gilt hands held in anjali mudra before his chest. His head and face are gilded with shaven head and pendulous ears framing a meditative expression and narrowed eyes. His long robes are incised at the hem with lotus blossoms. The upper portion of his body is in a kasaya with a finely chased lotus border. The patina shows it's sign of age.

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

Dimensions: 13" high x 5 1/2" wide x 5"...

The everted flanges are joined to the end of the top and rail, and the spandrel is of two scrolling dragons carved in low relief. The legs of the table rest on horizontal feet. Between the legs are a carved pendant of double motifs of ruyi scepters and pair of scrolling dragons.

Republic Period

Dimensions: 80" L x 17 1/2" D x 35 1/2" H