A rare early (female) Buddhist Guardian Lion painted with unevenly distributed crackular over glaze turquoise enamel. This item was probably made in China during the 17th or early 18th Century.

Condition: very good - there are many small under glaze firing cracks; there is glaze loss to both eyes and there is 'kiln grit' to the base. No chips or external cracks and no repairs or restoration.

15 cm / 6 inches high.

For many additional pictures and enlargements please view item #1745 on ...

Pair of Exquisite Chinese soapstone carvings of fu dogs, one male and one female with her baby. The pedestals on which the fu dogs stand show motif panels of horses in various form and pose.

Provenance: From a private estate, originally purchased at Morcom's House of Beautiful Things - Oakland, which closed in the 1920s.

Dates from the 18th/19th century Dimensions: 3" x 2" x 6 3/4" H

Chinese gilt temple carving of a Qilin breathing fire. Resembling a fu dog, the creature is a chimera mixed with a lion, a deer, a dragon, and sometimes other animals. The Qilin is said to appear with the arrival and the passing of a sage or high ruler.

19th century

Dimensions: 7 3/4" L x 1 3/4" D x 6" H

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.

Japanese hardwood platform shelf for a tokonoma, a recessed art display area for a traditional tea ceremony room. Made with bold Keyaki (elm) hardwood with original dark lacquer finish. Original condition.

Dimensions: 54" L x 18" D x 9" H

Japanese large half section Mizuya, or kitchen buffet tansu, constructed of Hinoki wood frame and Sugi wood panels. The large pair of sliding doors open to the spacious interior with two removable shelves straight across. The sides of the chest have horizontal bracing slats for reinforcement.

Dimensions: 69 1/4" x 19 1/2" x 35 1/2" H

A tradition dating from the mid-16th century, Raku teabowls are made by hand, without the use of a potter's wheel; giving them a distinctly human feel. In the process of shaping the bowls, potters handle the tea bowls in much the same manner that users will hold them as they drink from them. In this way, we can imagine a connection is formed between the creator of the tea bowl and the participants in the tea ceremony. For this and other reasons stemming from historical circumstances, Raku bowls ...

Asa (hemp) unlined kimono with katazome (stencil-resist-dye) fan motif. In good condition but has a few brownish spots. Mid 20th century. 126cm x 152cm

Height: 34.5 cm (13.8 in)
Width: 19 cm (7.6 in)

Fine Chinese porcelain vase; depicts deer in a garden setting; lappet and peach borders; 19th century or earlier; minor scratches; very good condition; email for more pictures

Chinese porcelain figure of a seated Daoist monk. The monk's skin is left unglazed, his draping robes and seat with Sancai "three colors" of yellow, green, and dark purple underglazes. One of the figure's ears is pierced through for gas to escape during kiln firing.

18th/19th century

Dimensions: 5 1/4" x 4 1/4" x 11" H

A fine Japanese hirado porcelain okimono of a recumbent horse. The horse has a whimsical expression. Its eyes are left unglazed with blackened pupils, its unglazed teeth exposed in a wide grin, the corners of the mouth and nostrils pierced through. Touches of cobalt blue underglaze accent the hooves and snout of the horse. The base is impressed with maker's cartouche.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 8 1/2" L x 4" W x 6" H

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...

Korean round lacquered container with shell inlay motifs of scrolling vines and lotus petals. The lid is topped with a pointed finial, lifting away to the red lacquered interior. The base is black lacquer with inlay sides and delicate inlay along interior rim.

19th Century

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

A Chinese rock crystal carving of a mythical beast called a Qilin. Resembling a fu dog, the creature is a chimera mixed with a lion, a deer, a dragon, and sometimes other animals. The Qilin is said to appear with the arrival and the passing of a sage or high ruler.

19th Century

Dimensions: 4" L x 1 3/4" W x 4 1/2" H

A Pair of Two Fine Korean Crane Civilian Official Badges (흉배)-19th C.: $2,300. Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th century. later framed Made for a civilian official of first to third rank, the square showing a a pair of white cranes above foaming stylized wave and rock work below clouds, worked in shades of light and dark blue, white, pink, yellow and brown on a dark blue silk ground. It’s in fine condition with some wrinkles on the red back, otherwise very good condition. Please note: ...

Mask with a curved shape showing highly stylized features. Wood, with fine glossy brown patina. Nepal, early 20th century. Height: 28.7 cm. Small and old accidents, otherwise very good condition. A rare type of Himalayan mask.

A traditionally crafted Bizen sake cup shaped in the tradition of Oribe. The rich mineral glaze gives this guinomi an almost a metallic look. The craftsman who made this piece, Takahiro Ishii, was born in Tokyo in 1977, and, after studying ceramics for a number of years, he moved to Bizen to become a ceramics teacher and later opened his own kiln. He takes a philosophic approach to his work as evidenced by the following quote, “As a ceramicist, I feel that the point is not just to produce pie...

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...