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...

A fine and very rare pair of monochrome rouleau shaped porcelain vases with apple green lustrous glaze; the base and interior are glazed white. There are old collector's labels to the base. These items were made in China, in the late 17th or early 18th Century, during the reign of the Kangxi emperor (1662-1722). Condition - excellent - no damages and no restoration. 13cm (5inches)high.

清康熙 苹果绿棒槌瓶一对

瓶底和瓶身内部施白釉。两个瓶...

A nice old miniature Scholar's screen with one panel depicting a poem written in beautiful calligraphy signed by the writer. The other side has faint remains of some scene. Size:H. 23.5cm. W. 13.3cm. Condition: No repairs.

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...

A green and yellow soapstone carving entitled "Lion Building" (located in Shandong province) depicting a scene from the famous Song dynasty legend the The Water Margin ("Shui Hu Zhuan") in which Wu Song fights with and kills Ximen Qing who had previously killed Wu Song's brother so as to 'acquire' his wife...

DESCRIPTION: One of the necessary calligraphy tools on the Chinese scholar’s table was a small container to hold water and drip it onto the inkstone for the purpose of mixing the ground ink. These small but important objects were crafted so that one measured drop at a time could be poured to ensure the proper ratio of ink to water while mixing...

DESCRIPTION: A good Chinese scholar’s brushpot, carved in deep relief with a continuous mountain landscape scene framed by gnarled pine trees and depicting two groups of scholars, some examining a scroll and others in a boat. The base and rim are encased in hardwood and the pot is engraved with a two line inscription. Very good condition, latter Qing Dynasty, 19th to early 20th C. DIMENSIONS: 6 ½” high (16.5 cm) x 6” diameter (15.2 cm).

DESCRIPTION: A fine 19th C. Chinese ink stone, crisply carved in the form of a bamboo node with leaves at the top and root knobs at the bottom. A deep water well has been carved into the upper section. Natural inclusions, called "eyes," are highlighted within the duan stone's design, with one eye at the top carved to simulate the moon, and the other incorporated into the stone's grinding surface...

A pair of fine Chinese coconut cups lined and mounted with silver. The body is carved in detail with "shou" symbols, precious objects, ribbons, prunus flowers etc. all against a ground of geometrical pattern.The base stamped with Chinese characters. Very desirable items,they date to 18/19 C. size: 8.2cm diameter. condition: the coconuts undamaged in very good condition, the silver with some dark spots which are easily removable and several superficial depressions ...

The marble painted with scenes of Chinese saints in a garden. Size: 34 x 34 cm. Very good condition with expected age wear.

Ca. 1890-1910s
Late Qing Dynasty - Republic period
Bone with ox horn
Seal measures 5 cm by 1.7cm by 1.7 cm
Carrying case measures 8.1 cm by 3 cm by 2 cm
From an Italian private collection

Condition: Staining to the seal, chips long the edge of the carrying case, otherwise excellent. [Please examine all photos carefully, as they are part of the condition report.]

Large and heavy Chinese late Qing dynasty scholar's hardwood box (guanpixiang) suitable for holding documents, seals, ink sticks, and other desktop items. This form of furniture was originally constructed as a jewelry box for ladies, but was also used later as a scholar's box. A removable panel on the front lifts to reveal two narrow document trays at the top, five drawers in the mid-section, and one narrow document tray at the bottom...

DESCRIPTION: A handsome Chinese scholar's brush pot crafted from burl root and hollowed well to hold a number of brushes (pictured here with three quality brushes we also have listed). Its undulating form, texture and patina are striking to view, and its natural shape would have had great appeal to the Chinese scholar in his studio. Dating from the Qing dynasty, mid 19th C., this pot is in very good condition with a few inconsequential rim cracks; very solid and sturdy...

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).

An unusual underglaze blue Chinese cricket jar with charming scenes of a scholar in garden settings. The condition is very good without chips, cracks, or hairlines. Dating circa 1900, it measures 5" across x 3.5" high.

Circa 1850, an extremely rare water/medicine dropper figurine of one of the eight immortals, he is Lu Dongbin, usually identified wearing a sword on his back. Lu Dongbin is highly venerated throughout China, and many local shrines have been built in his honor. At first you would think this to be a ewer, but there is no lid, only a protruded side hole where the thumb is placed over it, to control the water flow...

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...

DESCRIPTION: A Chinese scholar's wrist rest crafted from reddish-brown bamboo, the surface covered with fifteen lines of finely carved, raised calligraphy citing a 1962 poem by Mao Zedong. Excellent condition. DIMENSIONS: 11" long (28 cm) x 3" wide (7.6 cm).