Kawase Hasui
Terajima in the Snow
Date: 1930s.
Image size: 6 x 4.125 inches.
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo.
Reference: Hotei Hp-69.
"Made in Japan" stamped on verso.
Hasui seal at lower left.
Woodblock print is attached along its top edge to original 1930s card.
Condition: Excellent.

Bronze sculpture representing an owl on a tree stump covered with ivy. The owl, detachable from its base, has shakudo eyes. It is certainly an Ryûkyû scops owl (Otus elegans), present in the south of Japan in Ryûkyû Islands.
Red fabric glued to the base of the trunk to protect the base and the pedestal (not original).

The owl (fukurô, 梟) symbolizes good luck and protection from hardship. By homonymy, fukuro mean « good fortune coming » (福来郎) or « without diffi...

Polychrome bronze statuette of a group of mice around a pumpkin and a pomegranate. The five mice have a dark brown patina, while the hollowed-out gourd is dark brown and the split pomegranate is dark red.

Written in a cartouche on one of the pumpkin slices, "Shôsai Foundry" (正齊鋳, shôsai-chû).
Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Height: 6.4 in. (16.3 cm) – width: 7.8 in. (20 cm) – depth: 7.3 in. (18.5 cm)

Fine Large Chinese Western Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Ding Tripod (206 BC - AD 8)

This fine example of a painted pottery ding was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is a large example of its type, made from a fine-grained grey pottery and relatively highly-fired, having a distinct ring when tapped. The lower part stands on three long curved legs and has two curved square-cup handles on opposing sides. The upper part is adorned with three moulded appliqués (horses with ...

Fine Large Chinese Han Dynasty Painted Pottery Hu Jar & Cover

This pottery jar with cover was made during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 8). It is made from a fairly high-fired fine-grained grey pottery that has been elaborately "cold painted" in various coloured pigments, including blue, a colour rarely seen on Han pottery. The pattern comprises a geometric design around the neck and a swirling cloud pattern around the waist, between wide bands.

Height 33 cm (13 inches). This is a...

This is a genuine, archaic Chinese nephrite axe or Gui scepter. The surface has the expected smooth, "waxy" feel to it. The end is sharpened (which leads me to think it was made as a prestige axe as opposed to a scepter, although the literature seems to view pieces such as this one as either/both an axe and a Gui scepter; e.g. Rawson in Chinese Jade - I've included photos of the pieces listed there for reference). The piece is made from a pale celadon nephrite with darker inclusions and some are...

Lilian May Miller (1895-1943)
A Japanese Garden
Date: 1927.
Size: Approximately 5.625 x 3.75 inches.
From the book, Grass Blades from a Cinnamon Garden.
Monogrammed within the image.
Medium: Japanese woodblock print.
Condition: Light crease at lower right corner.

Lovely old Burmese lacquer box with a finely woven lattice work, insert lid (I assume to keep the flies off your “tiffin”) or used to sieve. Circa 60-90 years old, it is very thin and lightweight and the body is constructed of bamboo., I acquired this in a Pagan, lacquer shop about 20 years ago. Excellent original condition with minor lacquer loss at the bottom’s edge as to be expected from a genuinely old piece. D: 30.5cm/12in and H: 16cm/6.2in.

Good representation in the style of Lin Rongqian’s cursive calligraphy, as a Mandarin: Fu Lu/Cantonese: Fuk. This is a gift given to someone to congratulate them and wish them financial success in their career. This is a scroll mounted painted meant to be hung horizontally. There are small tabs in the upper side with which to do so. Mounted- L: 150cm/59in and W: 60cm/23in.

An exquisite Tenmoku tea bowl by veteran potter and master of the form Miura Shurei enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Tetsu-yu Chawan. It is 12 cm (5 inches) diameter, 8 cm (3 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Miura Shurei was born in 1942, and trained in the ceramic styles of both Arita and Kyoto. At the age of 23 he established a studio at the foot of Mt. Fuji in Yamanashi prefecture creating ceramics from local clay, and established the Shurei kiln in 1971. He...

Tiny repairs of gold glint along the rim of this misshapen wan-gata bowl from the Utsutsukawa tradition of Nagasaki. The bowl comes with a silk pouch enclosed in an old wooden box. There is a kutsuki on one side, where it adhered to something else in the kiln. The bowl is 12 x 10.5 x 6.5 cm (4-3/4 x 4-1/8 x 2-1/2 inches) and is in overall fine condition, dating from the 19th century.
Utsutsukawa-yaki originated in Nagasaki in the late 17th century. It is said it began when Tanaka Gyobus...

Chinese Tang Dynasty Sancai Glazed Pottery Lady with Oxford TL Test

This elegant pottery figure of a lady was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906). The lady wears flowing robes and stands alert with hands clasped together across her chest, her head looking very slightly to her left. It is made from a cream-coloured pottery that is relatively highly-fired. The body is coated in finely-crackled green and amber glazes while the head and face have been cold painted with black and white pi...

Pair of 11 1/2" tall Chinese Qing dynasty standing porcelain ducks decorated in iridescent yellow, green, and aubergine susancai enamels. 19th century. Excellent overall condition. Well modeled with fine details to the head, feathers, and webbed feet. From the Phoenix, Arizona collection of a woman in her 90s.

Fine Chinese Tang Dynasty Sancai Glazed Pottery Groom Figure (Published & with Oxford TL Test)

This fine pottery figure was made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 906) and represents a foreign male attendant or groom. It is "heavily-potted" and made from a cream-coloured pottery that is relatively highly-fired. The body is coated in very finely-crackled green and amber glazes.

Tang glazed items such as this are usually referred to as "sancai glazed" pieces. "Sancai" refers to three colo...

Contemporary Japanese glass obidome (sash ornament) with multiple rods depicting various flowers. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Beautiful design, superb quality glasswork, very pleasant finish. Metal fixture with two loops on the back for an obi cord. Diameter 1.07 inches.

A genuine large old Rajasthani storytellers scroll of the Pabuji legend. Hand painted on thick cotton. Estimated to be early 20th century or earlier. 240 x 92 cm. Can be viewed in central London.

Large Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Porcelain Dish (with Mark)

This impressive porcelain dish dates to c.1540 - 1620, from the late Jiajing reign to the Wanli reign. It has a foliated rim and is decorated in underglaze blue of good colour. The central decoration features a flower blossom surrounded by four be-ribboned Buddhistic lion-dogs. Surrounding the central roundel, around the cavetto, is a scrolling leaf scroll, with the flat upturned rim decorated with a wavy floral scroll. The u...

Rare LARGE Chinese Song Dynasty Stoneware Granary Jar & Cover with Oxford TL Test

This very rare and unusual stoneware jar, complete with its original elaborate cover, was made during the Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1279). Both cover and jar have architectural elements; they represent a granary with a raised tiled roof. The jar has applied decoration representing a tiled roof and a pair of doors. On either side of the doors as well as on the "back" of the jar, are incised patterns that seem to re...