This is an early edition of the Chieh Tzu Yuan Hua Chuan or Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting in 17 volumes. The condition is very good with some insect damage to the inside cover as seen in the photos. All volumes are in very good condition. Please see pictures for example pages and front inside cover. The dimensions of the set in cover slip are 10" by 7" by 4 1/2".
This is the perfect vase for the scholar desk with central medallions decorated with books, scrolls, go board, calligraphy paraphernalia and a large vase of flowers, interspersed with a field of cherry blossoms embedded in what is referred to as cracked ice. There is a nice reign mark but I cannot attest to the piece being of the period. It is being sold as a beautiful decorative object. The vase measures 7" tall, 2 1/2" across the foot and 3 1/2" widest at the shoulder. The c ...click for details
The Kei, or Buddhist ritual chime, is used by all sects except Zen to gain the attention of the congregated monks and to mark the progress of service rituals. The raised central boss is a stylized lotus which is usually flanked by peacocks but in this case seems flanked by opposing Phoenix. This example has a wonderful resonant chime which changes depending on which part is struck. Age is impossible for me to tell with any certainty but I believe this piece to be at least late-Edo. The patin ...click for details
This is a wonderful and whimsical pottery lime pot, the country of origin of which I am not certain. I suspect Indonesian but it could be Cambodian or even Vietnamese. If someone knows for sure and is willing to share, please let me know. The glaze is a subtle green-blue celadon with a pronounced small-to-medium crackle. There are buff flushes of color along the shoulder under the glaze which I assume is the clay showing through. This lovely pachyderm stands 5" tall and stretches 5 1/2 ...click for details
Here is a delightful addition to any tea ceremony practitioner/collector in the form of a Tanuki incense container. The warm patina characteristic of older Bizen pieces is very evident although not shown to best advantage in the bright lights of digital photography. The piece stands 2 1/2" tall and 2 1/2" at the widest. The condition is excellent with a few small rubs as expected in an older piece.
This is a wonderful old bronze Daruma with exquisite patina....he is the essence of enlightenment. The unread signature is on the bottom back of his robes and is shown in a photo close-up. He stands 7 1/2" tall and measures 7" across the widest point of the base. The condition is excellent.
This is a very nicely potted and decorated pair of Oribe small plates with bright red lobsters filling the central interior field of the top side. The craftsman who decorated the pieces used the space created by the green Oribe glaze very creatively to fold in the crustaceans. There is a dramatic signature on the back of one of the plates. They measure 7 1/2" across, stand 1" high, and the foot measures 3 3/4" across. The condition is very good/excellent with a small area of mi ...click for details
This is an exquisitely carved netsuke in the form of a dog with a snake in his teeth, presumably a meaningful combination of signs of the Zodiac which escapes me. The detail in both the dog's hair and snake's scales and tongue are exceptional. The piece is 2" long by 1 1/4" tall by 1" wide and is in excellent condition except it's missing its right inlaid black eye.
This is a very well executed carving in netsuke form of a lion or shishi mask with black inlaid eyes and signature. The piece measure 1 1/2" tall by 1 1/2" wide and is in excellent condition. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who can read the signature.
This is an extremely well-executed Hotei in an unusual blue and white robe and treasure bag motif with a variety of both Chinese and Japanese-origin symbols of good fortune. His freestanding right hand and left hand holding a fan are particularly well executed. This is a large figure measuring 12" tall, 7" at the widest point of the body, and 5" across the foot. The condition is excellent.
