From our Shipwreck Porcelain Collection, a fine and large blue and white Ca Mau Shipwreck dish ex-Sotheby's, Yongzheng Period 1723-1735, datable more specifically to circa 1725. The scene depicts Europeans (most likely Dutch traders) on what was once mistakenly thought to be Deshima Island in Nagasaki Harbor Japan, but which recent scholarship now concludes is either a scene of Holland in the Netherlands, or Gothenborg in Sweden. We personally agree with the academic viewpoint that the scene dep...

From our Southeast Asia Collection, a good and large vintage Indonesian batik executed in three different shades of blue, along with rust, peach, olive, black, brown, white, and signed by the artist.

Batik is one of many methodologies of fabric decoration employed in Indonesia's long and rich textile tradition. Those unfamiliar with the process will not immediately recognize how the designs are rendered, but it is essentially a wax-resist type of dyeing operation where certain sections o...

A well forged, handsome mokume tsuba in mokko-gata form with katakiri-bori landscape decoration on both the omote and ura. The mokume grain is large and well controlled reminding one of ayasugi hada. In fact, this tsuba is indeed a tosho (swordsmith's) tsuba, being made by [Kai Ju] Kiyonaga and dated the third year of Bunkyo (1863) believed to be the same as KIY 298 referenced in Hawley's, Japanese Swordsmiths. Our angled, side view photographs more accurately portray patina and color as well as...

From our Chinese Blue and White Collection, a good ginger jar with "double shu" design bestowing "double happiness," late 19th century, either Tongzhi (1862-1874) or Guangxu Period (1875-1908).

Jars such as this current example were often given as gifts containing foodstuffs with the lids glued shut. As a result, many lids were broken upon opening and subsequently lost to history, which is why so many are seen without their original lids. It's always nice to find an example with its origin...

A soapstone sculpture of the Chinese bearded sage Lao Tzu with staff and scrolls (one partially unfurled from the dragon form staff-head and one tied to his belt.) Engraved cloud decoration on the robe and on the hood over curly locks on the figure's high forehead. Three rather tame looking qilin rest at the figure's feet, looking to the sage - two with a heavenly cloud wisp issuing from their mouths indicating they are not of this world and emphasizing the suggestion of longevity. All hand carv...

The compressed globular body supported by three conical feet, with a pair of loop handles rising from the rim. PERIOD: Ming Dynasty. MEASURES: Height from feet to handle 10 cm and diameter 2.5 cm. CONDITION: No chips, cracks or hairlines and free from restorations.

Description:

A gilt silver plaque was well decorated with motifs of QiLinSongZi, a most popular Chinese metaphor of the fairy animal Qilin sending child to the vowing family.
By characteristic Chinese scenes of pagoda, plum trees, Qilin and the figure riding through the water waves, the picturesque scene was well carved and chiseled by excellent craftsmanship.
It was a piece most likely a buckle on the cloth belt. There're old drilling holes on four corners for sewing thread.