Antique Japanese ikebana basket for flower arranging. Woven of both wide and narrow split bamboo with a gnarled root wood rim and handle. Tall and narrow with elegant natural form.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 21" high x 9 1/2" wide

Antique Japanese bronze temple bell or bonsho, with a handle of dragon heads called a ryuzu, protrusions called chi chi or nyu to improve resonance of sound, the tsuki-za striking panels, and the mei-bun inscription of the bell's history. Inscription dates the bell to Meiwa 4, 1767, during the Edo period. Commissioned by Ninomiya Juemon, village head and rest of villagers. Good luck day of July.

Bonshō (Japanese: 梵鐘, Buddhist bells), also known as tsurigane (釣り鐘, hanging... Click for details

Antique Japanese 2-section isho tansu (chest on chest for clothing) made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. The top section has two large drawers and the bottom section has two large drawers and two small drawers on the lower right hand side. Iron hardware includes large round lock plates on the large drawers and matching small round lock plates on the small drawers.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 41 1/2" high x 34" wide x 15 3/4" deep

Antique Japanese 2-section isho tansu (chest on chest for clothing), made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. Top section has two large drawers and the lower section has two large drawers and a safe box in the lower right hand side. The safe is opened by a hinged door to reveal two small interior drawers. Iron hardware with unusual daikon (radish) shaped lock plates. Lovely foliated iron corner bracing and safe door hardware.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 41 1/2" high... Click for details

Vintage silver bracelet set with 7 Egyptian faience scarabs. Each beetle is mounted so that the hieroglyphic writing on the underside could be seen. The largest scarab in the middle. Beautiful blue coloring consistent with fine faience. Stamped silver.

Scarabs (Egyptian dung beetles) were believed to have close ties to the sun god, Ra and were used in amulets and funerary art. They represented protection, transformation and resurrection.

Age: scarabs: possibly... Click for details

Pair of ancient Persian small cast bronze mythical creatures. Each figure has a rounded head, the short horns of a bull, an arching neck and a single hoofed foot. Various holes and slots point to a utilitarian as well as decorative function. Most likely these were feet used for a ritual incense vessel. The holes were for the censor to hang from above but the tripod vessel could also stand. Lovely coloring and encrustation of bronze consistent with age. (ref sources: Luristan, Persia.... Click for details

Antique Tibetan Buddhist small reliquary in stupa form. Carved of quartz crystal in two sections with traces of gold leaf, this votive offering would have once been housed in a larger container and placed at the foot of an architectural stupa acting as either a funeral mound or housing relics of an important person. The shape, with it's rounded body and terraced lid, imitates the larger stupa, a three dimensional mandala and symbol of Buddha. With a small wooden collector's box.... Click for details

Antique Tibetan Buddhist small reliquary in stupa form. Made of glass and covered with gold leaf, this votive offering would have once been housed in a larger container and placed at the foot of an architectural stupa acting as either a funeral mound or housing relics of an important person. The shape, with it's rounded body and terraced lid, imitate the larger stupa, a three dimensional mandala and symbol of Buddha.

Age:17th/18th century

Dimensions: 3 1/2" high

Antique Korean pair of small Koryŏ porcelain cups. Elegant form with small feet and sharply flared sides. Fine celadon glaze in pale blue with high transparency. The interiors are a paler translucent glaze. Each cup has a simple blue underglaze dot in the underside of the foot.

Goryeo (Koryŏ) Dynasty (918 (935)-1392)

Dimensions: 2 3/4" high x 1 5/8" wide diameter each

Antique Japanese bronze candlestick with a whimsical scene of a cat chasing a mouse. The cat slinks around the round base while the mouse clings to the candle pricket high above. The animals are especially well modeled and have highly detailed fur. The base of the candlestick is cast with an archaic motif made popular again during the Meiji era. Provenance: William Lipton Collection, New York City

Age: Meiji Period (circa 1890)

Dimensions: 7 1/2" high x 5 1/4" wide... Click for details