17th century
Late Ming - early Qing dynasty
Solid bronze
Diameter of opening: 12.7 cm / 5 in
Length (handle to handle): 17.5 cm / 6.9 in
Height: 8.3 cm / 3.3 in
Weight: 1118.6 grams (1.1 kg)
From a Denver, Pennsylvania estate

A rare and beautiful 17th century bronze censer, of a proportionally pleasing form with a compressed bulging body raised on a flared foot, with the rim everted and the handles casted as twin Buddhist lion heads. The base is ...

17th century
Ming Dynasty
Porcelain with clear ivory glaze
Diameter: 14 cm / 5.5 in
Height: 7.4 cm / 2.9 in
From an English private collection
v A lovely 17th c Ming Dehua blanc-de-chine medium-sized box and cover, mould-casted with fluted edges and relief decoration showing a blooming peony sprig. This piece exemplifies the quality of Ming dehua wares with its fine porcelain paste and bubbly clear ivory glaze almost resembling that of Dingyao wares.

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Chinese Celadon crackled Stoneware Vase, ca. Ming period 1425-1644, 7" high, 5 1/2" wide-widest part, nicely crackled and shows raised rings like turning wheel pattern on the entire body by the turning wheel by the artist. Glazed with Celadon color inside the heavy top rim area, and the bottom is unglazed. One side shows darker area caused by the firing with wood burning inside the Dragon kiln. The condition is good, no damages.

This is pure antique Edo: Wan-shaped tea bowl made of dark, iron oxide bearing, sandy Karatsu clay. The thinly thrown body is covered with the typical white, feldspatic Shino type glaze. It differs from the Mino Shino glaze by being glossier due to a higher ash content.

Under the glaze a line was applied in iron oxide resembling the skin of a whale (kawakujira). Just the foot ring and its immediate surrounding was left unglazed. The glaze has a beautiful fine crazing.

This e...

A bronze Lion with its original dark patination made in China, possibly as a censer, during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644, most likely during the 16th or early 17th Century. Condition: there are some very old losses to the applied decoration - a part of the "beard" is missing,the right ear has been re-attached and the base has an old wood block infill; there has been no restoration. 14.5cm (5.7 inches)high; 14cm (5 inches) across.

16th Century Chinese Bronze Temple Guardian

It is 15 inches (38 cm) tall by 6.5 inches (17 cm) wide at the base. It is 13.5 Lb.

It has manufacture defect of missing metal at the base, oxidation, and surface wears 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. All you ne...

This is really a rarely seen example of antique Japanese ceramic art: impressive Katakuchi Chawan (tea bowl with a spout), made of unrefined Mino clay. Katakuchi chawans of that age are barely available on the antique market. It is the only one in our collection. So take your chance.

A good wood box is included. Shipping included, too.

Size: 2,8'' height x 5,5'' in diameter

A very rare and characteristically glazed foo lioness with her left paw on the head of her baby. These usually come in pairs. One with the baby foo lion under the paw and one with a ball under the paw. This one has a lot of feeling with the baby foo lion looking annoyed with the paw pushing down on its head. There is always some humor with some of these statues. Size: H. 40cm. W. 35cm. Condition: Some pieces missing from age and weather.

Antique Tibetan vajrakila phurba, a Buddhist sacred dagger "believed to be capable of transmuting vice and egocentrism into benevolent compassion. According to legend, Padmasambava introduced the magic dagger to Tibet to subdue forces hostile to Buddhism." (Bonhams Auction Tues. June 28, 2016 page.14.) Made of iron and copper alloy.

18th/19th century

Size: 8 1/8" long.

A rare and unusual turquoise glazed, pottery gu form altar vase. Its moulded decoration depicts two dragons amongst clouds on the upper section ; on the waist are two ruyi bands and on the unglazed lower section are two cash symbols and what appears to be a double gourd. The base carries an inscription which we have been unable to read. This item was made for the domestic market. In China turquoise objects (which were fired at low temperature with a glaze that was notoriously difficult to contro...

Rarely seen Shigaraki kettle with a fantastic shape, slightly deformed without any damage or repair. It dates from the early stages of the Edo Period.

Shigaraki is one of the oldest pottery towns in Japan with a history dating back more than 1,200 years. Historians say that local kilns were producing roof tiles when the emperor Shomu briefly relocated his palace to the area from Kyoto in 742 AD. These days, many Japanese know Shigaraki for its Tanuki or Japanese raccoon dog ceramic...

Wan shaped tea bowl made of light, refined and soft Mino clay, which contains a little iron oxide. The fastly but expertly thrown body inside and outside, with the exception of the bottom (including the finely thrown foot ring) is covered with a transparent ash glaze, which turned to yellow due to the iron oxide in the clay.

In two areas at the rim are highlights in green copper oxide in the tradition of the Mino Ki-Seto. The chawan shows a lot of fantastic tea stain, indicating a ...

Statue of Bodhisattva Sadaksari Lokesvara, the four-armed deity seated in "dhyanasana" on a double lotus throne, his principal arms in prayer posture ("anjali mudra"), the other hands wearing the rosary (""ashamala") on the right side and a lotus of absolute purity on the left side. His head is sumounted by a stylized bust of Buddha Amithaba. The deity is wearing diadem, jewels and dhoti. The statue is made of gilt copper with turquoise and coral inserts. Tibet, 16th century. Height: 13 cm. Gild...

A katchushi mutsu-gata sukashi tsuba. The six lobed, thin plated armorer's tsuba with good tekkotsu and with openwork decoration was described by Skip Holbrook (ex collection) as Saotome made and depicting three birds. The Saotome were a line of armorers (katchu) turned tsuba makers. But I think a case could be made for the sukashi decoration being a wabi-sabi flower bloom or possibly paulownia leaves (rather than awkward looking "birds".) Use of the paulownia (kiri) mon could suggest Yamakichi...

A simple, four lobed armorer's tsuba with simple pierced decoration perhaps depicting a landscape with structure. The udenuki-ana (cord holes) have the effect of completing the illusion of a Sesshu-like landscape. The saotome were armorers turned tsuba makers who worked in this manner and scale. Good condition with good tekkotsu. Sengoku era. 2 15/16 (7.46 cm) inches x 2 5/8 (6.67 cm) inches

Charming Chinese Ming Dynasty painting of a pair of cats sitting under a branch of blossoming peonies. The larger of the two cats, a calico, has his eyes fixed on a butterfly. The other cat, a wild eyed tabby, crouches with a large spider in his mouth. Wonderfully painted with great detail and whimsy. Mineral colors and ink on silk with silk mounting (was once a scroll). There is a chop in the lower left hand corner. Provenance: from the collection of James Soong. Total size including...

An elegant Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Baluster Vase depicting Lotus Petal Panels and Hanging Grape Vines. Salvaged from the Vung Tao Shipwreck (1690). Has clear Marking/Symbol "Babo" on Base representing Jewel, Pearl or the Sacred Disc in the Pa Kua in Motion, Heavenly Protection also called the Sacred Lotus Flower. This generally represents the sitting Buddha which symbolizes creative Power and Purity towards Adversity. Good overall condition despite exposure to sea water. No repairs, chi...

A very rare genuine antique stucco stele/cornice depicting Thepanom Angel on both sides surrounded by beautiful flame motif! Mounted on a black Museum Stand. Good condition, some natural aging due to considerable age, ca. 17th Century. Size: 22 x 19 cm. Further photographs available upon request.