White Celadon Jar Number Two by Kim Young Mi. This beautiful and unusual shade of celadon is achieved by the artist's skillful manipulation of the glaze. 7.5h x 7w inches, 19h x 18w cm.

From our Chinese Blue and White Collection, an unusually fine Qianlong Period (1736-1795) tureen base or shallow basin, depicting a river scene with a large fenced pagoda, a stone bridge, and several people on boats and pontoons, together with a meticulously intricate border of ruyi heads, cash diaper motifs, key frets, butterflies, and other marvelous details.

This piece is top quality in terms of "Nanking Ware" (not to be confused with Nanking Cargo Shipwreck pieces); it really gets no ...

From our Japanese Collection, a very fine and early Gosu Blue satsuma vase, late Edo Period circa 1840-1860, signed Gyozan. There are four separate gilt-framed panels: Two depict shi-shi, one depicts scholar's table objects, and one depicts a flowering plant. Each panel is surmounted by birds in flight on the upper shoulder, probably phoenix. As with all of our satsuma offerings, this piece is of the highest quality, and is a particularly fine example of early Gosu Blue satsuma.

Size and ...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a very fine gilded Burmese hsun-ok or offering vessel, late 19th to early 20th century. Gilded offering vessels such as this present example would have been owned by wealthy Burmese families, and used exclusively for bringing food gifts to the monastery. They are constructed of bamboo and turned wood bodies, and decorated with scrolling floral designs called "chupan." Crafting the chupan design is actually a deceptively meticulous and laborious process, one t...

An excellent pictorial reference book especially for novice collectors looking to train their eyes regarding how genuine pieces are supposed to look. Highly recommended with wonderful color photos throughout the entire volume. Four main sections addressing Satsuma, Imari, Hirado and Kutani. With so much fake imari and inferior satsuma on the internet these days, this is a must-have guide for novices collecting in these areas.

We have two of these books: This one has been sitting on our she...

Rare and out of print for many years, PJ Donnelly's treatise on Blanc de Chine was the first comprehensive book on this subject, and has become a collector's item in its own right. A must-have reference text for blanc de chine (dehua) collectors. Modern scholarship on blanc de chine has evolved considerably since Donnelly's time, but his work is an essential foundation, and this book remains the most thorough single issue treatment of this subject.

Frederick A. Praeger Publishers, 1st E...

From our Japanese Collection, a superb Kinkozan satsuma vase of tapered ovoid form, Meiji Period 1868-1912, most likely 1880-1890, depicting a finely painted bijin on one panel along with finely painted roosters and flying birds in a garden setting on the other panel. Both main panels are separated by reserves of elaborate gilt work set against a rich cobalt blue ground. Kinkozan signature and impressed mark on the bottom. As with all of our satsuma offerings, this piece is of the highest qual...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a very fine 19th century Thai Rattanakosin bronze Buddha exhibiting the rarely seen Pang Ham Phra Kaen Chan mudra, also known as the "Stopping the Sandalwood Image" mudra. This Buddha is especially well-cast with sharp details. It has just the right balance of wear commensurate with age combined with a good amount of retained original gilding, ultimately giving the piece its undeniable air of age and authenticity.

As stated above, this particular mu...

From our Chinese Blue and White Collection, a very fine and elegant Kangxi Period (1662-1722) phoenix bowl, early Kangxi Period circa 1675-1690, decorated with two well-painted phoenixes and a treed outcropping, all well-executed in a strong blue against a delicately potted pure white body with everted rim. The interior features a single flower encircled within a medallion of double lines. The base is plain. The footrim is especially finely cut and very neatly glazed exposing just a narrow swath...

Japanese uchikake (wedding gown) with a colorful design of flowers and birds done in the Tsujigahana-zome (dye) style. The old Tsujigahana dye technique was used on the clothing of the Muromachi to Momoyama period elites. Inside the tie dyed area, flowers and birds were painted with blue, purple and black ink. Tsujigahana-dye was short lived and completely vanished by the early 17th century because of its extreme complexity. This gown is very beautiful with many woven metal threads;...

An unusual chato (tea room sword) in the shape of an octopus, its 8 legs stretched out in uniform with one curled back exposing the suckers. Eyes are intimated on one side, with an old chip where the breathing hole is opposite. About the neck is wrapped a faded silk chord. It is 22 inches (56 cm) long. It is said that these wooden swords were produced from the mid to late Edo period, in lieu of swords for those not allowed to carry weapons (all but samurai). During the Edo it is true that ...

Beautiful Japanese maru obi! Obis can be used as a belt to hold a kimono together. The classic design from the Heian Period (794-1192AD) of ox carts, fans and court music instruments run throughout the front and back. The gold is woven into the fabric almost entirely and sparkles when it is hit by light – it has much gentler tones in the dark. The earth tone green and rusty brown are particularly pretty on this obi. With a thick padding inside, this obi will make a great decoration pi...

From our Chinese Monochrome Collection, a large carved ivory elephant bridge, late 19th century, depicting a procession of eight individual elephants of graduating size, nicely carved from a single tusk. The elephants are well-rendered and the ivory has a good buttery patina somewhat better than the photos reflect.

Interestingly, the artist's decision to carve eight elephants here is no accident: Those familiar with Chinese mythologies and cultural superstitions will immediately recognize...

This is an uchikake robe (outer kimono gown) probably used as Kabuki stage costume. The bottom and the openings of sleeves are thickly padded with cotton stuffing. The design is large paulownia leaves and flowers. The exterior and liner are both thick cotton. This robe is old, and a little soiled but the fabrics still have not lost it’s strength. It is an attractive display piece. One small tear (hole) in red liner in the back, some broken couching stitches.

48” (1.22m) wide...

From our Chinese Polychrome Collection, a very rare and seldom seen Peranakan Chai Hup or ceremonial vegetable box, 19th century, used for food offerings to Tiangong, the God of Heaven, during traditional Baba Weddings.

The terms "Peranakan" or "Baba Nyonya" or "Straits Chinese" are often used interchangeably to describe the descendants of Ming Dynasty Chinese immigrants who settled along the Malay Peninsula, which encompasses parts of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. But the ethnograp...

Japanese sagemono (hanging object) tobacco pipe set consisting of a wood kiserutsuzu (pipe holder), kiseru (pipe), and wood tonkotsu (tobacco box) in the form of a humorous yawning Daruma with arms overhead grasping the two cords with his fists. The cords hold an ojime (sliding bead), which is attached to the pipe holder. Daruma’s body is kiri (pawlonia) wood and his eyes are inlaid with mother of pearl. His face lifts and functions as a cover for the tobacco box. A badger (tanuki) standin...

Large and heavy mirror pair of Chinese bronze Mandarin duck-form censers, or incense burners, with lotus stems trailing from open beaks and bodies decorated with molded lotus flowers and etched feathers. A removable pierced cover in the form of lotus flowers and stems is integrated into the feathers of the back. Each duck rests on a custom wood stand carved with water ripples. The incense smoke can exit through the opened beaks, a vent in the tail, and the pierced cover. A pair of Mandarin d...

From our Indian Subcontinent Collection, an exceptional Kashmiri kashkul or beggar's bowl, 19th century, modeled after the boat-shaped beggar's bowls used by Persian Sufi mystics. This fantastic vessel is composed of a metallic body, most likely copper alloy, that has been lacquered and then exquisitely painted with floral motifs in rich but subtle shades of blue, red, yellow, taupe, black, and with gilt highlights. It sits upon a slightly splayed foot and terminates in two dragon-head finials...