The forked arrowhead (karimata) was named after its resemblance to the V-formation flight of wild geese. Such arrows of different sizes were highly prized on the battlefield and for hunting large game. The Japanese arrowheads, many resembling miniature spears, were made in hundreds of varied shapes of folded, tempered steel.
They were attached to the bamboo shafts by means of long, thin tangs (Nakago). The most common were narrow, roughly-filed, pointed arrowheads used to penetrate armor...

Veins of green Kai-yu meander over the body of this spectacular example of Edo period Tamba Pottery capping rich red clay rising from an abrupt base. A few bubbles in the clay reveal character about the torso, the lip powerfully rendered over the shoulder, which slumps to one side like some haggard but still proud old soldier. Four looping handles (mimi) would allow the lid to be tied down. Between two a drip from the roof of the kiln has adhered to the clay forming a point of interest. Ret...

Width: 29 cm (11.6 in)
Height: 12.2 cm (5 in)

Large Chinese famille rose porcelain bowl; features rural and river scenes; rings like a bell; 18th century; good condition

One prominent Buddhist story tells of Avalokiteshvara vowing never to rest until he had freed all sentient beings from Samsara. Despite strenuous effort, he realizes that still many unhappy beings were yet to be saved. After struggling to comprehend the needs of so many, his head splits into 11 pieces. Amitabha, seeing his plight, gives him 11 heads with which to hear the cries of the suffering. Upon hearing these cries and comprehending them, Avalokiteshvara attempts to reach out to all those...

Height of group: 9 cm (3.5 in)
Width of saucer: 12.5 cm (5 in)
Width of lid: 8.5 cm (3.4 in)

Rare Chinese porcelain trio from the Kangxi Period; matched pieces; saucer with small chip to rim; good condition

Chinese Export Blue and White Porcelain covered Vase with Foo Dog knob on top, Ca. 1720, Kangxi underglaze blue leaf Kangxi mark on the bottom, 6 1/2" high with top on, 3 3/4" wide-widest part, 2" diameter-top rim, 2 1/8" diameter-bottom rim, Crispy underglaze blue designs representing various floral branches inside indented vertical lines of panels. The Dome top shape cover has Foo Dog knob on top and some Chinese symbols in underglaze blue on dome top cover. There are some very shallow flat ...

Thangka of the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Manjushri, the central figure holding her flaming sword. Depicting the five peaceful manifestations of Manjushri, including the wrathful Mahakala as protector deity of the thangka. There are five monasteries depicted in the painting, each with title describing their identity. WuTai-shan, the five-peak mountain, is shown which contains the five monasteries. At the top of the thangka is Tsongkhapa, the Wisdom manifestation. Painted with mineral pigments and bl...

A very interesting chawan (tea bowl) dating from the Korean Joseon period (Richo in Japanese; 1392-1897). This particular piece appears to date from the 17th or 18th century and comes with a box that looks to have been furnished within the last 100 years. Over the long history of tea practice in Japan, at varying times, Korean-ware came into high fashion and ships full of the finest ceramics were brought over to Japan. Such pieces have long been favored by learned cha-jin (tea people) and older ...

An assortment of seventeen old Chinese crystal beads from many Dynasties.Can be made inta a beautiful necklace. Size: See last photo.

There are only few opportunities to find antique Chosen Karatsu chawans - collectors know of what I'm talking about. Here is the second one of our collection:

Chosen Karatsu chawan from the Edo Period. The grandiose embellishment of color creates a sublime sense of tension between the dark glazed and color infusion.

The Chosen Karatsu style is a traditional style which was introduced by one or more potters brought from the Joseon Dynasty during the Japanese invasions of ...

Slightly distorted shoe shaped (kutsugata) tea bowl with a rounded brim, made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife in its lower part around the foot ring.

In the style of Ao-Kuro bowls this bowl was covered with a green copper oxide glaze. A window on the side was left unglazed and split in two halves - one was decorated with a scetch of a fence in iron oxide engobe with an image of drying shibukaki on rice strings, the o...

Large and only slightly distorted full cylinder shaped Tsutsu (hight is bigger than diameter) tea bowl with a rounded brim, made of reddish, unrefined Mino clay with clearly visible finger marks on the wall.

The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife around the regular food ring. In the style of Seto-Kuro bowls this bowl was covered with a black glaze.

On three sides a round space was spared from black glaze. The unglazed areas were decorated with the aoi-m...

Height: 6 cm (1.2 in)
Width: 8 cm (3.2 in)

Heavy Chinese bronze water dropper; late Ming Dynasty / early Qing; inlaid with silver throughout; good patina and condition

Width: 16.2 cm (6.4 in)
Height: 6.8 cm (2.7 in)
Depth: 5 cm (2 in)

Interesting pair of 18th century porcelain scroll or silk weights; modelled in the form of two boys (He He); small areas of glaze degredation; good condition

A blue and white dish or bowl, depicting a garden wall and rocks with peony, bamboo and prunus. China, mid Qianlong period. Made for the European market, the well surrounded by a Rococo scroll border. Diameter "8 ½ / 21.2 and height"1 ½ / 4 cm. Condition: rim frits and wear to the well (cf. pics).

Complete Nepalese manuscript. Estimated to be late 18th century or earlier. 78 sides. 10 full page illustrations, one double page illustration. Text in red and black ink, charts and diagrams, traces of ritual use. 26.5 cm x 9.5 cm. Can be viewed in central London and shipped worldwide. SEE PAGE 2/2 FOR REST OF IMAGES

CONTINUATION OF PAGE 1. PRICE OF $3500 IS FOR COMPLETE MANUSCRIPT

An exquisite 17th-18th c. rendition of Suiten (vedic Varuna) rising over tempestuous waves. Pigment on silk, The scroll is 59.2 x 167.5 cm (23-1/2 x 66 inches). It has been fully remounted, in an antique silk retaining the original brass rollers. One of the oldest gods, Varuna is associated with a Serpent (Makara) as his vehicle and a noose as his weapon. Varuna is god of waters, the source of rains and the one who rules over the Nagas (divine sea serpent), myths important in Hinduism and ...