Catalog (6154)

Antique Chinese small cup, skillfully hand-carved from jade, of a flattened shape with three rows of protruding circles along its sides, a looped handle, and short, receded foot. Size: 3.5" L x 2.5" W x 1.25" H

Antique Chinese large monochrome porcelain vase with black glaze fading into brown tones towards the fluted rim, ribbed body, rough bare foot.
19th century.
Stunning finish with dramatic coloring. Size: 17" H x 7" W

Antique Chinese peking glass brush pot. Hand-carved form to resemble finely detailed burl wood. Late Ching Dynasty 19th Century. Size: 5" L x 4" W x 4.5" H

Literati taste of a Chinese boxwood brush pot with polished skin and twisted knot holes. An elegant form representing a natural world which is a keen favorite in the Song dynasty.

19th Century

Size: 5" L x 4" W x 7.5" H

New Arrival

Antique 18th century Japanese charming small scroll painting of a beautiful maiden riding a kirin (in Chinese, qilin). The mythical creature is part lion with the body of a dragon and the hooves of a deer. It represents good fortune, protection, prosperity, longevity and fertility. Beautifully painted in sumi ink and light colors on paper. Mounted on paper. Signed by the artist. (pvt. Collection) purchased in early 1980's.
18th century
Size of scroll: ...

New Arrival

18th Century Japanese small antique scroll painting of a koi leaping up a waterfall. Beautifully painted with great expression, the fish leaps from the churning waters below. Painted in sumi ink on paper and mounted on lovely antique obi silk with a fan motif. Signed by the artist. 18th century (pvt. Collection purchased in Japan in early 1980's)
Size of scroll: 64 1/2" high x 9 3/4" wide (12" wide including scroll ends). Size of art: 35" high x 9" wide.

Antique Tibetan vajrakila phurba, a Buddhist sacred dagger "believed to be capable of transmuting vice and egocentrism into benevolent compassion. According to legend, Padmasambava introduced the magic dagger to Tibet to subdue forces hostile to Buddhism." (Bonhams Auction Tues. June 28, 2016 page.14.) Made of iron and copper alloy.

18th/19th century

Size: 8 1/8" long.

Japanese two-panel folding screen of horses crossing a bridge with scenic background of mountains. Taisho period early 20th century.

Size: 71" L x 53" H (entire screen) 30" L x 43" H (each panel)

Antique Sino-Tibetan gilt bronze statue of the deity Kubera, lord of wealth and protector over the world. He is typically shown holding a bag of jewels or fruit in one of his hands and a mongoose in the other. The mongoose symbolizes Kubera's victory over the Naga, or snake people, who watch over large hoards of treasures. The mongoose is also said to spit out jewels every time it opens its mouth. The statue is sculpted incredibly well, with natural patina and traces of pigments. The base is em...

A pair of deeply carved Chinese cinnabar lacquer trays, with flower petal edges, the surfaces carved with foliate imagery such as peaches, pomegranates, citron, persimmon, and berries. Similar pieces can be seen from the 15th/16th century. Most likely this pair dates from the early 20th century.

Size: 15" x 15"

Antique Japanese scroll painting, in a Ukiyo-e style of a beautiful geisha woman reading a letter. Signed with unusual red enzo mark. Tomobako (storage box) is included.

Size: (entire scroll) 68" H x 14.5" W (artwork only) 36" H x 11" W

Antique Chinese pair of stone temple door supports with carvings of fu dogs, seated on tanggu (ceremonial drums) on large pedestals. Intricately carved detail with emblems of dragons and auspicious characters on the front of each pedestal. The smaller female fu dog on the left is carved with her mouth closed, while the larger male on the right has an open mouth. This is a typical depiction to represent the sacred mantra "om". Extremely heavy, solid stone.

19th century

Size...

Topoke spear currency. Forged iron mounted on black iron stand. Equatorial Region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Large forged blades such as this in the shape of a spear point were well used in the middle of the 20th century. As currency and during marriage ceremonies, they are known under several names; Di hunga (small form), doa the larger example spear form. During the marriage ceremonies up to 60 doa might be exchanged for the bride. These were specially shaped look like spear's points...

Antique Chinese calligraphy scroll painting, signed Li Xian Gen (1893-1943), a secretary to Sun Zhong Shan, with two red chops.

Size: 14.25" W x 85" H (entire scroll) 9.25" W x 19.75" H (artwork only)

Antique Japanese large indigo Tsutsugaki yogi robe made out of a futon cover, with a paste-resist Kikumon, or Chrysanthemum crest on its back, also called the Imperial Seal of Japan. Tsutsugaki is a technique in which bindings are applied to the cotton threads in any desired pattern and dye is applied over them. The bindings resist the dye, leaving behind patterns in the original color of the threads. The edges of fabric are sewn together using white sashiko stichwork.

Size: 62.5" L...

Antique Chinese bronze tripod censer, with lions' heads for handles and beautiful hand-scribed calligraphy on its front over a textured ground. The four characters on the bronze read "to keep and appreciate forever". The signature is dated the ninth year of Guangxu (1884). Some family members dedicated this to their deceased ancestor's 70th birthday. The first two characters are the name of an island in a fairy tale, inhabited by immortals. The last two characters mean "love spring". It also has...

Antique Chinese scroll painting of a crane and pine tree, with calligraphy "dedicated to Zhonghua, Summer of (1930 or 1870)" , signed Chen Xi with two red chops.

Size: 22" x 60" H (entire scroll), 18.75" x 51" H (artwork only)

Antique Chinese porcelain brush washer, with ocean landscape scenes of boats on the water, and inscription on the backside with red chop. The foot is slightly recessed with unusual red mark. The brush washer is of a round form with flattened base and a wide mouth with a very short lip.

Republic period

Dimensions : 3.5" x 3.5" x 3" H

Antique Japanese bronze vase, with two swimming koi fish in high relief. Hand-signed by the artist on its side. Given as a gift in 1964 with special commemorative inscription on foot.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions : 9" x 9" x 15" H

Antique Korean blue and white porcelain square water dropper, raised on 4 short L-shaped feet with artist's signature in cobalt blue on the base. Design of flowers on the top surface in cobalt blue underglaze.

Dates from the 19th century

Dimensions: 3.25" L x 2.5" D x 1.75" H

Antique Korean blue and white water dropper in the shape of a fan. The top surface design is of a blossoming cherry branch with fan outline in cobalt underglaze, while the foot is left bare.

Dates from 19th century. Dimensions : 4" L x 2.25" D x 1.5" H

Antique Korean bowl, with a rich crackle celadon glaze. Its outer edges are incised with thick lotus petals. The bowl displays small, buff areas, bare from the natural dripping of the glaze.

15th Century

Dimensions: 6.5" x 2.75" H

Antique Japanese ikebana (flower arrangement) basket. Hand-woven with thin branches of bamboo, the body is tall and slender with a dramatic fluted foot. The base is has deeply recessed inner edges, with the rounded, wagon-wheel design center in high relief. The mouth of the basket has a slightly flared lip, and the handle is comprised of several twisted bamboo branches. With bamboo insert.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 8" x 22.5" H

Porcelain plate made in China for the 17th century Japanese market. Blue and white design of a bird in a pine tree draped in moss. Encircled with a thin ring of blue. The edges of the plate and the many small irregularities in the firing are especially prized in this type of ware. "Ko-sometsuke ('old blue and white') porcelain was produced specifically for the Japanese market during the final decades of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The lack of Chinese imperial patronage during this period...

Porcelain plate made in China for the 17th century Japanese market. Blue and white design of 2 boats in a misty bay with land outcroppings and a mountain pavilion. The underside of the plate is decorated with three thin blue rings and two flowers. The edges of the plate and the many small irregularities in the firing are especially prized in this type of ware.

"Ko-sometsuke ('old blue and white') porcelain was produced specifically for the Japanese market during the final decades of th...

Antique Japanese Takeda Ningyo doll depicting a samurai warrior wielding a staff. The samurai wears hand-embroidered garb, his helmet rested against his shoulder, the meadate in the form of a dragon's head. The realistic eyes and facial features are all hand-painted, portraying menacing determination. The doll stands on a wooden base with inlay.

Edo period 19th century

Dimensions: 11" x 6: x 16" H (doll) 12" x 8" x 19" H (with base)

Circular jingasa with a gradual domed top; Textured to simulate leather. The composition is of bamboo, paper, and many layers of Urishi lacquer work. The interior is finished in red with its original cotton gear straps and cushion. Excellent condition. With the mitsudome "God of War" mon.
The samurai class in feudal Japan, as well as their retainers and footsoldiers (ashigaru), used several types of jingasa made from iron, copper, wood, paper, bamboo, or leather. Kasa shares its etymolo...

Chinese hardwood table made from jumu (elm) wood. The sides of the table are carved with pierced panels of dragons and clouds. The four feet are carved with spirals. Original condition.

19th Century

Dimensions: 29.75" L x 21" D x 33" H

The battle of Dan-no-ura was a major battle of the Genpei war, occurring at Dan-no-ura, in the Shimonoseki Strait off the Southern tip of Honshu in the year 1185. One of the crucial factors that allowed the Minamoto to win the battle was that a Taira general Taguchi Shigeyoshi defected and attacked his Taira Clan from the rear. He also revealed to the Minamoto Clan which ship the 6 year-old Emperor Antoku was on. Their archers turned their attention to the helmsmen and rowers of the emperor's sh...

Korean antique ceramic bowl, eggshell thin body with tall sides, slightly tapered to the short foot. With celadon green enamel glaze. The exterior sides are incised with stylized floral motifs while the interior is incised with a ring just below the rim and wave patterns.

Goryeo (고려; 高麗 918–1392), also spelled as Koryŏ, was a Korean kingdom established in 918 by King Taejo. This kingdom later gave name to the modern exonym "Korea".
It united the Later Three Kingd...

Here is a fine example of a scholarly pursuit of finding the accoutrement for the use of calligraphy. A Japanese bronze tsuteke water dropper, in the form of an old sage or "Sennin" riding on the back of a turtle with its flowing hair-like tails. The turtle is lifting its head so that the angle would allow to pour water from its mouth. The hole is located on the back top of the turtle's shell, allowing for water to flow in. The general use is to submerge the water dropper in a bowl until the air...

Japanese green studio crackle ware vase with applied silver floral motifs. With tomobako. The foot is signed Shofu Katei (1870-1928). Small wear losses.

Shofu Katei was born in 1870 in Seto, Japan. He later moved to Kyoto where has was adopted into the prestigious Shofu family kiln to create Japanese ceramics. In 1908, he set up the Shofu Ceramics Company, Ltd. and was awarded a Green Ribbon in 1915.

Dimensions: 5" W x 7 1/2" H (Tomobako 6 1/2" x 9" H)

Chinese antique porcelain brush container with unusually detailed scenes skillfully incised into each of its four sides. These pictorial reserves show figures in various scholarly pursuits including the study of written texts, scroll painting, playing music and board games, all in garden settings with various trees and vertical rock formations. The body of the container stands on four small corner feet. Glazed a turquoise blue and incised with a Qianlong mark (1735-1796).

Most likel...

Among popular Japanese symbolic animals are frogs. There are many species of frogs in Japan as a result of flooding rice fields in Japanese agriculture. These creatures are often used in poetry and art, and are sometimes carried by travelers to make sure they return home safely from their journeys. The word "frog" in Japanese means "return" which is why the frog is considered a Japanese lucky animal and seen as good fortune in things returning.

Japanese boxwood carving of a female f...

A whimsical Japanese boxwood carving of a toad, with inlaid eyes, crawling atop a functioning cylindrical box carved of bone. The box is hand-carved with flying insects and leaping frogs in a lily pond, the base carved with a floral band. Signed by the artist.

Dimensions: 3 3/4" x 2 1/2" x 6 3/4" H

Japanese low table with keyaki (elm) root burl top and deer antlers for the legs.

Showa Period

Dimensions: 17 1/4" high x 32 1/2" long x 25" wide

Chinese antique yuhuchunping, pear shaped porcelain vase with a short foot and slender neck flaring at the rim. Decorated with a copper-red underglaze scene of a four-clawed dragon amid swirling clouds. The inside of the rim is decorated with a classic scroll motif. The area just above the foot of the vase is encircle with a band of trefoils.

Possibly Yuan or Ming Dynasty

Dimensions: 13 3/4" high

Antique Chinese pair of porcelain vases with flared foliate rims and pear shaped bodies. Glazed with a turquoise color ground incised with a flower motif, the front and back of each vase is decorated with two highly raised dragons and swirling clouds in a yellow glazed medallion reserve. Each vase has dragon handles and the ground is decorated with applied objects of scholarly pursuits. Bases impressed with a Quinlong mark but these vases are 19th century.

Dimensions: 8 3/4" high

Antique Chinese carved jadeite snuff bottle. The stone is speckled with variations of green including small striations of a brilliant apple-green color. The flattened globular formed body is carved with peony flowers on one side and lotus blossoms and birds on the other.

19th century

Dimensions: 2" high (not including lid)

Antique Japanese small table top screen painting. A scene depicting a Spring landscape of green rolling hills and trees. A red sun (also a symbol of Japan) hides behind a finger of haze. On the left side of the screen, butterflies flit over a lizard who is hungrily eyeing a bee. Painted in light mineral colors on silk.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 15 1/2" high x 38 3/4" long

Antique Indian damascened hand shield. Silver on copper, engraved decoration with black enamel ground. Mounted on a custom antiqued bronze stand presentation.

Late 19th / early 20th Century

Dimensions: 11" x 11" x 2" (15 1/2" on stand)

Antique hardwood Japanese strong box with hand forged iron banding and hard mounts. Original finish and condition. The lid bears the mon or family crest of the Hori Clan.

Edo period 19th century

Dimensions: 23 1/2" x 10 3/4" x 6"

Japanese gold lacquer inro with five compartments, decorated in low relief landscape scene of lakeside mountains, cottages, pagodas, pine trees, and bridges in gold lacquer and accents of silver. The reverse side shows a tiny man in a boat traversing the waters. The inside compartments are covered with dense nashiji lacquer (fine gold flecks). Underneath the bottom compartment is an artist's signature with red chop. With some losses.

Inro (seal basket) are small decorative container...

Japanese incense box in the form of a flattened drum with realistic wood grain pattern in gold flake togidashi maki-e lacquer and high relief lacquer to resemble iron studs along the sides. The top of the box is done in low-relief maki-e gold lacquer with the image of a mother hen and father rooster pecking for food with their three infant chicks. The crest and waddle of each rooster are done with touches of red lacquer. The interior box and bottom are done in dense nashiji lacquer gold flakes. ...

Antique Japanese 2-panel screen painting of a scene with a songbird on a gnarled, moss-covered rock. A stream runs around the rock. Blue and white irises grow on it's banks. Painted in mineral colors on gold leaf.

Dimensions: 43 3/4" high x 36" wide Meiji Period c1900

Antique Caucasian Azeri runner carpet, hand-woven 100% wool in a Karaja design of two large central diamond medallions flanked by Heriz style medallions, surrounded by angular and geometric floral motifs, in hues of rust, indigo, bright green and yellow.

Late 19th century, circa 1890

Dimensions: 2' 3" x 8' 9"

Japanese framed print depicting a woman walking through a snowy village with a parasol, by artist Sarah Brayer (1957-present) titled "Kunodani" in pencil, signed, and numbered 4/120.
Sarah Brayer (born 1957) is an American artist who works in both Japan and the United States. She is internationally known for her poured washi paperworks, aquatint and woodblock prints. In 2013 Japan's Ministry of Culture awarded Sarah its Bunkacho Chokan Hyosho ("Commissioner of Culture Award") for disse...

Chinese small ceramic water coupe, the interior and outer body with thick grey crackle glaze, the dark brown clay body exposed where the glaze drips end. The short, rounded form has a ribbed body and slightly flared, wide mouth. Possible Guan Ware c15th century.

Dimensions: 3 1/2" x 2" H

Chinese repousse silver perfumer shaped like a melon. It is divided into 6 sections with tiny flowers on a vine in each section. Clasp in back. Bottom has maker's cartouche.

Dimensions: 3"(including stem) X 3.25"

Tibetan thangka painting depicting a wonderful seascape with the Shakyamuni Buddha seated in meditation upon a lotus throne in the clouds near the top of the painting. Two robed figures stand on a large open flower leaf holding offerings to the Buddha. Below them is a floating pink structure with banners topped by Wishing Ball finials. A large man is seated in the center, surrounded by his attendants, and he extends a peach out in reverence to the Buddha. There are various other figures arrange...

Chinese silk throne cover, with hand-embroidery of treasure vases, lotuses, other flowers, and a single butterfly in gold and silk thread against a red ground. The reverse is done in blue silk with calligraphy and cartouche signature. From Dodi Fromson Collection

Circa 1900-1910

Dimensions: 25" w x 57" h

Japanese gold lacquer Inro with five compartments, decorated in low relief landscape scene of temple in the mountain surrounded by pines and connected by a small bridge over a river in gold lacquer. The reverse side shows mountains in the distance and a small seaside village. The inside compartments are covered with dense nashiji lacquer (fine gold flecks). The cord has a metal ojime. Inro (seal basket) are small decorative containers that hang from the waist. They originate at the end of the 1...

An antique Chinese hardwood side table with tier. the circular marble plaque inset has a lotus petal edge carved with prunus, openwork floral apron joined to zoomorphic supports with paw-and-ball supports.

Date: 1900's

Dimensions: 22.25"h X 17" diameter

Vietnamese glazed bowl. Provenance: Prominent Private Collection from San Diego, CA

Date: Tran Dynasty (13th-14thC)

Dimensions: 7" in diameter X 3.75" tall

An antique Vietnamese celadon glazed bowl with floral motifs in the interior. Provenance: Prominent Private Collection from San Diego, CA

Date: Ly/Tran Dynasty (12th-13thC)

Dimensions: 9" in diameter X 4" tall

An antique four case Japanese Inro with lacquer and gold flecked images of pine trees with a bone netsuke of a monkey holding a persimmon and an agate ojime.

Date: early Meiji Period: Circa 1880's

Dimensions: 4" long X 2.5" wide

Antique Himalayan tall yak butter lamp. Made of hand hammered copper with gilt bronze applied details depicting Buddhist auspicious symbols. The butter would have melted and burned for a measured amount of time depending on the size and the amount in the lamp. A small hole in the bottom of the cup would have held a sort of wick to provide a long lasting light. Overall repouse details are in great detail. Original patina.

Early 19th century (Circa 1810)

Dimensions: 8 5/8" ...

Chinese traditional court necklace composed of rutlilated quartz, jasper, dark etched peking glass, turquoise, lapis lazuli with woven knotted silk. Beautiful and dramatic work.

From an East Bay Berkeley home.
Dates 20th Century
Size L 69"

Pair of Japanese iron tsuba (sword guard), mounted on a stand, dating from the 17th/19th century with Hidden Christian motifs. The first tsuba composed of three iron interlocking circles, the image of the Cross can be seen. The second iron tsuba has a very delicate wire design in the interior representing the Crown of Thorns, also has a cross in the overall pattern.

Provenance Private Collector
Dates 17th-19th century
Size w/stand H 9 1/4" x W 2 1/2" x D 2"

Rare Japanese Kutani porcelain figure of mother and child, individual work of art charmingly depicted with mother is kneeling and holding her child with focused attention after bath with bright reddish and raised floral design on towel wrapped at her feet and with hair held up with gold comb. Signed at bottom "Kutani" in kanji and with circular impressed mark. Good condition.

from a Los Angeles Estate
circa early 20th century
Size: 12" High 6 1/2" Wide 6" Deep