A jaw-dropping igneous chawan tea bowl by Inayoshi Osamu like a shimmering mineral deposit found deep inside some calcitic limestone cavern. When I asked him about the effects on the surface, he said that he could not wholly explain them, they were some mystery of the kiln, caused during the firing. The bowl is 13.8 x 13 x 9.5 cm (5-1/2 x 5 x 4 inches) and in excellent condition. It comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box with shiori and shifuku, hand-picked from the artist this summe...

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Pheasant and Grasses
Size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Shoson seal at lower right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: AS.14 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Circa 1820, Chinese Export blue and white porcelain helmet creamer. Featuring a hand painted continuous scene of a Chinese village landscape with boats on water and intricate borders, it is in excellent antique condition, showing only a little wear to the gold trim at the rim and top of handle. Measures: 5 inches high, 3.25" wide, 5" long.

Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Black Pottery Horse

This small and attractive pottery model of a horse was made during the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1279 - 1368). It is quite "heavily-potted" and made from a black pottery with a smooth burnished surface. Note the detail to its mane. Pottery horses from the Yuan dynasty are much rarer than those from other periods.

Height 17 cm, length 20 cm. It is in good presentable condition, although there is restoration to the tail and ears, also a minor repair to ...

Ohara Shoson (Koson)
Peacock and Peahen in a Flowering Cherry Tree
Size: Approximately 5.5 x 3.5 inches.
Date: ca. 1930s.
Shoson seal at right.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: AS.30 in Crows, Cranes and Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson (Reigle Newland).
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Excellent.

Antique Japanese scroll painting of a rugged mountain landscape. A house is nestled between trees and rock formations. A tiny figure in the lower mid-left climbs toward the house. Tanaka Hakuin (1866 - 1934) Hakuin was born in Suruga Province (present Shizuoka Prefecture) in 1866. His real given name was Keizaburo. Hakuin is a pseudonym. In 1883, when he was 17 years old, he went to Kyoto and became a disciple of Tanomura Chokunyu, master Nanga style painter. Hakuin was good at painting...

Antique Japanese Zenga scroll painting of a scholar's cane or staff. Elongated vertical composition with calligraphy. Painted in sumi ink on paper. The seal with white on red says: 巨福山主 Kofuku Sanshu "Chief Priest of Kofuku" (Kofuku is the "mountain name" of Kenchō-ji temple in Kamakura) The lower seal with red on white says: 曇華 Donge So, these are the seals of Sugawara Donge (original name Sugawara Jihō) [1866-1956] (The don means cloudy/overcast; ge means flower/...

Antique Tibetan gilt bronze figure of a standing bodhisattva. He stands squarely on a lotus throne with both hands raised in abhayamudra, the gesture of reassurance as if to say "have no fear". Great care has been paid to the many flowing folds of his robes and his tall crown is embellished with ornate details. The calmness of his facial expression conveys serenity and compassion.

Age: 19th century

Dimensions: 12 1/2" high x 6" wide

Mughal miniature of a lone standing woman. Gouache on card. Painting with 2 borders of Gold leaves. Remaining border of pink flower buds on a white ground. Overall size 35x23 cm. Early - mid 18th century. Ex Gayer-Anderson collection label on reverse. Painting with same border in National Gallery of Australia, acc # NGA 91.1370 (see image). Provenance: Acquired in India by a collector named Fadnis (alternatively spelled Phadanavis or Furnuwees), mid-1800s or before by descent to his...

Chinese Tang Dynasty Changsha Bowl from 9th Century Shipwreck (c. AD 826)

This rare decorated glazed bowl was made around AD 826, during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906) at the Changsha kilns. We can be that precise about the dating because it was excavated from the "Belitung Wreck" in 1998-99, a mile off the coast of Belitung, Indonesia. Another bowl from that wreck is inscribed with a date equivalent to AD 826 and carbon 14 analysis of the wreck also confirms an early 9th century date. Al...

Very Rare Chinese Yuan Dynasty Inside-Glazed Qingbai Porcelain Zodiac Jar

This extremely rare and unusual jar was made during the Yuan Dynasty (1279 - 1368). It has a splayed foot and is quite "heavily-potted" with the whole of the outer body profusely decorated with what are most likely religious (Buddhist) motifs. The lower body is covered in repeated carved lotus leaves. Around the waist is a band of "pie crust" decoration on top of which stand twelve human-like figures, the bodies moulde...

Japanese antique pair of small Inari Shinto shrine foxes made of pottery with traces of Mica in the clay. Originally painted, these foxes still have traces of bright pigment. Also called Zenko, these good spirit Kitsune (foxes) are specifically associated with the Goddess, Inari.

Believed to be both messengers and guardians, Kitsune served Inari in her role as the Goddess of agriculture, specifically rice. Part of the folklore surrounding the fox is it's ability to shape shift into t...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Sakuranoki (Cherry wood), Kuri (Chestnut), Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Constructed using through mortise and tenon Japanese joinery. Horizontal side slats match the sliding door slats. Three drawers and the space behind the doors provide spacious storage.

Originally used by a merchant to keep store records, books, supplies and sometimes inventory, this chest works wells in a contemporary setting as a sideboard...

Height: 17.4 cm (7 in)
Width: 20.2 cm (8.1 in)

The body of this Chinese porcelain brush pot is carved with Chilong against a background of scrolling lotus plants and linghi fungus under a hatched rim-border; the glaze is tinged with soft blue celadon with the rim being slightly off-white; the internal glaze also has a celadon tint as does the countersunk centre of the unglazed base; shows scuffing wear to the interior and base and minor scratches externally; very good condition; ...

Hand painted scene of a wedding procession crossing a river. Gouache on paper. 39x19cm. Signed bottom right. Undated, estimated to be mid 20th century or earlier.

An antique Japanese Haribako (sewing box) made of Tochinoki (Horse Chestnut) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. Rare connected double Pine needle bronze handles representing good luck and longevity with Gumbai shaped hinges on the top. Vertical slot on the right upper back that was originally used to store a textile ruler called Shaku. Under the hinged lid lies a lift-out tray that hides a secret drawer behind.

Traditionally used by a seamstress or a wife to store sewing paraphernalia including...

Antique Japanese scroll with a small painting of a building, possibly a shrine or a palace with gate high in the mountains and surrounded by trees. Painted in ink and light colors on silk. Calligraphy and signature and with tomobako. The seals are hard to make out but lowest two read 白山, White Mountain, Hakusan, Hakuzan artist's name.

Dimensions: Total size: 41 1/4" high x 12 1/2" wide (14 1/4" wide with rollers). Size of art: 7 3/4" high x 6 1/2" wide

Japanese scroll with calligraphy around a bridge and blooming irises. With box and extensive writing. Ink and mineral colors on paper. Post-humous work of Kenzan's famous "Yatsuhashi" Artist Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743) — biographical information here: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ogata-Kenzan And the seal at the bottom left is: 深省 An online source says this is Shinshо̄, but Shinsei could also be possible (and the bio link above mentions both) As the link says: His ...