19th Century Chinese Bamboo Carved Scholar Brush Pot with Calligraphy & Plum Tree Blossom Signed

It is 4.6 inches (11.7 cm) tall by 2.4 inches (6.1 cm) wide. It is 93.9 gram.

It has hairline cracks, stains, chips, and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

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19th Century Chinese Cinnabar Lacquer Carved Scholar Ink Box with Lead Base

It is 1.15 inches (3 cm) tall by 2.7 inches (7 cm) in diameter. It is 161.7 gram.

It has chips, hairline cracks, surface wear and scratches (as seen in the photos).

Our Guarantee: We stand behind all of the items that we sell. That is to say, if you purchase an item from us and are unhappy with it for any reason, return it for a 100% refund of the amount you originally paid...

This is the rarest cricket cage of its kind to be found, as it is made of tortoise shell, the cap is possible horn and is capped with mother-of-pearl shell on which is a carved four toed dragon that covers a solid gold wire mesh to prevent the naughty cricket from escaping. This cricket cage is in very good antique condition and measures 4" (10.2 cm).

19th century
Qing Dynasty
Clear rock crystal and copper/nickel alloy
Seal: 4 cm height, 2.6 cm diameter
Paste box: 4.6 x 3.3 x 2 cm
From a Philadelphia collection

A nice 19th c scholar's seal and paste box set, along with a silk-lined vintage presentation stand. The seal, carved from clear rock crystal, features a well-rendered foo lion finial...

A Chinese bronze censer with stylized fish handles. The recessed base with a cast apocryphal Ming Xuande reign mark. 18th century.

An almost identical censer was auctioned at Christie’s “Interiors”, London, South Kensington, lot 795. 9th November, 2011. Results available on the Christie’s website.

Approximately 9.5 cm mouth diameter, 8 cm high.The censer weighs 414 grams...

An old soapstone seal was in very good mood of scholar taste.

Two lions were vibrantly rendered on the top of the seal as a knob.

While well maneuvered inscriptions were on four side of the stamp.

For Chinese literati, the scholar taste was most treasured, by the meaning of the inscriptions and by the craftsmanship of the carving on the inscription.The seal obtained all these characteristics.

And the tint of this stone was in great mood too...

A very good quality Annamese dark brown rosewood and mother of pearl inlaid stationary tray for the Scholar’s Table. Rectangular form with raised feet. Decorated with mother of pearl inlays to all four sides with figures in garden setting: rocks, branches, pagodas and bridges, butterflies etc. Nguyen Dynasty Vietnam, 19th Century. Condition: fair. Size: L. 31 x W. 18,5 x H. 10 cm square

Charming antique Chinese small teapot with Daoist figures encircling body, lid with flowers and figures, signed on body and on recessed base.

Size: 3.5"H 5.5"L 3.5"D

Republic Period

A scholar taste Chinese Jade ink stone. The stone is a nephrite jade in the form of a flat craggily gonshi stone. The use of the stone, which has inclusions would be used to hold colored ink or water. The reverse side is to grind ink stick. Often scholar objects reflect details from nature and would incorporate them in their study.

Provenance Laurence Friedman Collection purchased from Ex Fu Ming Fair Co...

This tiny antique knife from the late Qing Dynasty has a wooden handle and fits into its shagreen covered scabbard...Clearly it was originally hung on a chain ...A scant 4 inches in total.

DESCRIPTION: A red and gilt ink cake in the form of a turtle with a curled snake on its back. In ancient China, the tortoise and the snake were thought to be spiritual creatures symbolizing longevity. Both the front and back have been finely pressed in raised relief with gilt accents. One of the treasures of the Chinese scholar’s studio, this ink cake is in excellent condition, in its original box, and dates from the first quarter of the 20th C. or earlier. DIMENSIONS: 3” long (7.7 cm).

DESCRIPTION: A fine red and gilt Chinese scholar's ink cake in circular form with the front and back molded in relief in the form of a foo dog (shi shi) with tightly curled mane. Both the front and back have raised Chinese characters in relief. Excellent condition in original box, and dating from the first quarter of the 20th C. or earlier. DIMENSIONS: 2 ¾” diameter (7 cm).

He is charming...well detailed leaning on a pillows ...a few nicks and bruises to the finish as to be expected at this age...roughly 4 inches tall and 6 inches wide...

Jade brush rest mounted on stand, showing ocean rock like terrane hollowed with interesting holes and flowing form. Salt water calcification deposits on the jade, a new wood/metal stand.

Provenance East Bay Estate
Dates 19th century
Size H 9" x W 3 3/4" x D 2 3/4"

This antique ivory bookmark is shaped and colored on one side to appear as a woman wearing a kimono. There is a long cord with small pierced ivory ojimi and tassel attached...

RARE pair of miniature red lacquered elm wood Chinese scholar's cabinets. Designed as a “mirror image” pair, each cabinet has one side panel which is plain while the opposing side panel is decorated with floral carvings. These decorative cabinets also served a utilitarian purpose for the scholar who would use them to store items such as seals, wrist and brush rests, water droppers, scroll weights, etc. The doors feature subtle gold highlights...

The stone has a lustrous patina and has a very dramatic ‘splash’ of red on both sides. It has never been carved with a designation and the base has now a shallow flake as a result of an impact on the edge, with a little powdery material showing. Further along there is a tiny bruise to the edge. These could be taken out by reducing the length by 0.4cm. Personally the chip does not worry me...

Bamboo pot carved with several characters from Chinese mythology evolving in a raised garden. One can easily recognize Shoulao, god of longevity, accompanied by his deer and holding the peach of immortality in his right hand and his stick in the left. The deer holds in its mouth a Lingzhi mushroom of immortality. The work is important, the sculptures do not have the perfect but cutesy aesthetic of the 18th century and would suggest that this pot is a late popular clumsy creation...