A Ming carved wooden figure of a women that represents a female deity. The primary deity of salvational sectarian religion, she is a grandmotherly figure who wants to call back to heaven all of her children, the inhabitants of this world. The cults devoted to her were often explicitly egalitarian, and women played prominent roles as leaders. Religion offered women in traditional China a wider variety of social roles than did any other realm, and perhaps as important as the social roles, religio...

Antique Japanese scroll painting on silk, of a lone black bird perched on a blossoming branch. Signed with seal of possible artist, Kano Tanen. The name is 淡淵 (alternate form for the 2nd character: 渕).

Size: (entire scroll) 72.5" H x 24" W (painting only) 44.5" H x 16" W

Antique Japanese scroll painting of a young woman with a younger girl , dressed in beautiful flowing kimono and standing below a cherry blossom branch. There are three chops altogether, one is of a very unusual shape of a vase. Beautiful calligraphy along the upper region with artist's signature below in corner. Tomobako is included.

18th century

Size: 61" H x 17" W (entire scroll) 33" H x 11.5" W (artwork only)

Antique Japanese bronze ikebana vase, meant for artistic flower arranging, with unusual curling handles reminiscent of spiraling vines. Artist's signature incised in the bottom.

Size: 12.5" W x 9" H

Antique Japanese bronze vase, of wide, round, and shortened form, its edges sculpted with dragons flying through clouds. Beautiful original aged patina.

Early Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Size: 12" W x 7.5" H

Decorative and useful ear pick hair pin. Beg. of 20th C, South of China, Yao and Miao minorities. L:13 cms

Decorative and useful enamalled ear pick hair pin. Beg. of 20th C, South of China, Yao and Miao minorities. L:10 cms

Large silver torque worn by the « Flower » Miao made of silver.
That kind of heavy necklace was only worn for prestige during the festivals. Guizhou, China, first half of 20th C. H : 30c, inner Width : 15c, external Width : 25c

A dragon rides in a swirl of movement atop this silver and damascened Koro incense burner by Chosa Yoshiyuki. The sides are decorated with images of plum and pine. The bottom is signed Yoshi-saku, and bears the stamp 900 delineating the silver content. It is 5-1/2 inches (14 cm) tall, 3-1/2 inches (9 cm) diameter and in fine condition, enclosed in a period heavy kiri-wood box.
Chosa Yoshiyuki (1915-2002) was a bronze artist and recipient of the Japanese Order of Cultural Merit. Born i...

Wick tweezers L : 24c, l : 4c

Wick scissors L : 18c, l : 8c

Found in a tomb, the pipe having been buried with its owner. Oxidised baitong (the bamboo stem has decayed), beautiful bowl . L : 18c H : 8c

Perfect Aka Raku Tsutsu Chawan made by the 10th generation Kichizaemon Tan-nyu and enclosed in an authentication wood box written and signed by the 12th generation master of Omotosenke, Seisei (1863-1937).

Tan-nyu (1795-1854) was firstly named as Sojiro. He was the second son of Ryōnyu, the second generation master. In 1811, at the retirement of his father-master Ryonyu, he succeeded as Kichiza’emon. In 1819, together with his father Ryonyu, he assisted Oniwa-yaki Kairakuen ...

Chinese carved wood Cake Mold with handle, Ca. 1930's, hand carved Lotus flower mold, carved out of raw wood, 8 1/2" long, 3 3/4" wide, 1" thick, shows rough raw wood surface with saw mark.

Chinese carved Wood Rice Cake Mold, Ca. 1930's, 9 1/2" long, 4 3/4" wide, 1" thick, with deep carved Chinese Peach and "Long Life" in Chinese Character in the center, very decorative and well carved out of raw piece of wood and hand saw mark in the back outside. The condition shows wear and tear.

A well carved and painted wooden Ming statue of a female deity. She is in a sitting position holding something in her hands and wearing a hat that looks like some strange animal.The most significant appearance of a female deity in traditional Chinese popular religion occurs in the sixteenth century, with a new deity, known as wu sheng lao mu-the Venerable Eternal Mother. The primary deity of salvational sectarian religion, she is a grandmotherly figure who wants to call back to heaven all of her...

Chinese 4th Rank Court Official's silk badge of a wild goose. The background is black silk and is embroidered with very fine metal threads. The sun and its tendrils are silver foiled threads tacked down with red silk threads. The flowers are also silver but tacked down with green silk threads. The flowers appear to be white chrysanthemums, a symbol of nobility, elegance, and longevity. Each flower encompasses a display blue forbidden stitch knots to create the effect of pollen being dispersed. T...

Antique Japanese wood carving of Hotei, one of the Seven Lucky Gods of fortune, with beautiful remnants of old lacquer.

18th century, Edo period (1603-1868)

Size: 5.5" W x 8.5" H