This is a LARGE, very seldom seen, Buddhist Temple Ceremonial (Taiko) Drum with Stand. Taiko means that the drum is beaten with a mallet or drumstick. According to Japanese history: the first use of taiko was as a battlefield instrument; used to intimidate and scare the enemy –a use to which drums have been put in many cultures. In addition to the martial aspect, taiko has been used in the most refined cultural settings as well...

Small tripod miniature incense burner of simple form in cast bronze. The two handles are unusually very thin. Below we can see the 6 characters of the reign of Xuande of the Ming Dynasty. The bronze is old, the beautiful patina attests to it. However, it is difficult to date it exactly. Usually the bronzes bearing the mark of Xuande are from the 17th century. A wooden base and lid were added later, probably in the 19th century...

Contemporary watercolor painting on paper dated 1993 by Zhang Daoxing (born 1935) depicting three female tea leaf pickers with white flower decorated aprons and flowers adorning their heads. A pony is at the lower left. Mounted with a white silk border for framing, it can be loosely rolled for shipping. Mounting: 35” x 35” (painting: 26 7/8” x 27 1/4"). Very good overall condition...

Chinese Qing dynasty ink and color on paper vertical framed painting of three children flying a kite outdoors. The unsigned painting appears to date from the 19th century. The frame size is 52” x 18” (painting: 42 1/2” x 11 1/4"). There is old damage, wear, and soiling visible. Framed in Tucson in the 1990s in a deep, substantial handmade black lacquer moulding. The painting is framed with glass. Purchased in the 1990s from an old Arizona collection.

Chinese Qing dynasty to early Republic period naturalistic form wood brush pot with a hollow circular top for holding brushes. Carved from a single piece of wood, the recessed base is not a separate plug. Late 19th to early 20th century. 7 3/4” high x about 8” diameter at the base and 4” diameter at the outer edge of the top; interior of the brush holder: 3 3/4" deep x about 2 1/4" diameter; weighs 4 lb. 3 7/8 oz. (1.92 kilograms). Typical wear and minor cracks...

Cast bronze censer in 3 parts. The casting is perfect and the metal meticulously scraped. The combustion hearth part fits on a 6-foot base inspired by wooden furniture. The decor is simple but of high quality, the greek borders and the discreet scrolls are very finely incised with the best precision. The lid is not of the same quality, it was created to replace the old lost lid. It is an excellent ancient Chinese work from the 18th century or earlier. Hight: 222mm Without cover: 158mm

Censer in form of Tripod vase (Ding shape) in Chinese porcelain. Underglaze decoration of dragons with 5 claws in cobalt blue and copper red. The dragons are chasing the sacred pearl. Below the mark of Wanly. It is probably an apocryphal mark...

Rare water-pot,dropper? (too little for wine and not covered for tea) for schollar in Sancai enameled porcelain, Kangxi period. Fruit-shaped, appears to be a pomegranate, with stem leaves and flower. The flower is admirably made with thin petals like paper which is daring, miraculously none is missing, however, looking with a magnifying glass we can see on the edges of small gaps that we can guess or imagine on photo but it is not obvious because the petals are naturally jagged...

Superb hanging stand, carved in sandalwood with boxwood details. Decor of 2 dragons presenting a Chinese character, certainly that of longevity "Shou". The stand is carved with the greatest care, a perfect work of cabinetmaking with an excellent finish. In the upper part there remains a hook and a piece of chain in gilded bronze with mercury tecnical. The suspended object, now missing, must have been of exceptional quality, probably imperial...

Cast bronze censer gilded with mercury. Decor of Greek friezes and incised precious objects. The gilding is largely worn, we still see some in the places most protected from wear and tear. It is thick and of good quality, it is a hot-pasted mercury gilding technique. The handles are attached to the body they were cast with it, they are not added, riveted or welded, they represent dragon heads. On the base foot we can see a vertical dark trace of solding that is probably an old restauration...

Cast pewter dropper in the shape of a doe. The animal is lying down, it is hollow and its mouth is pierced with a hole letting the water flow drop by drop. A leg is broken but is easily repairable, we can do this free of charge on request. The pewter seems covered in places with a thin layer of lacquer, or is it an old deposit of smoke, dust and oxides due to age. Probably Chinese work, of undetermined period with precision, but most certainly old. Qing period. A bit worn, normally for an old pe...

Black and white print of Nagasena Ahrat. In the 9th century this portrait of the luohan was painted as well as those of 15 other Ahrats by the painter Guanxiu who was a Buddhist monk. 900 years later, in 1757, Emperor Kienlong during a visit to Shengyin Monastery in the former province of Hang admired the 16 portraits. In order to perpetuate them, he ordered the carving of 16 sculpted stones to produce numerous prints of these works of art, of which here is one of the rare examples. Since then, ...

Rare “sizhi” (four straight sides), inkstone circa Ming Dynasty. Good condition with one small chip noted in last enlargement. Please pay attention to the detail of the carving in enlargements (especially the footrim), the lines are graceful, and understated. A simple, elegant and still completely usable piece. L: 11.6cm/4.5in, H: 2cm/.8in and W: 7.8cm/3.1in.

Small cast bronze vase. Creature mask decoration in relief, probably a tiger. The metal is very thick and this small vase is very heavy. Although very simple, it is venerable and powerful. It is very old for several centuries. The patina of the bronze is sublime. Certainly a Chinese work. I don't think it's from the Ming period, the drawing is too simple. It could be Song or before... Only a specialist could determine a precise dating. Very nice respectable object. Height: 123mm. Good conditio...

Cast bronze incense burner. Simple, tripod shape, with cut-out rather than welded handles. Despite its simplicity, this censer is of a good quality finish, in fact you can see on some photos the traces of the passage of the scraper tool which makes a perfectly smooth surface. Below cast in the mass the mark of Xuande. Although bearing this mark of the 15th century, this type of bronze is from the Qing period. The one presented here can be dated to the 18th century more or less 100 years. Good c...

Sculpture in white steatite representing a mountain landscape with forests dotted with pavilions. The sculpture is of high quality, the artist has made no mistakes, the volumes are perfect, the drawings harmonious and the whole exudes a feeling of quiet calm . It is rare to find soapstone of this quality, usually sculptures in this material are technically mediocre and without artistic interest. We could think of an illustrious destination but there is no signature. Qing period, early 19th cent...

A Rare 蔡沈Manuscript 書經集傳序 of Song Dynasty was found.
It was in Chinese calligraphy on an old manually made paper.
It is very hard for me to authenticate if it was from Song dynasty or from later dates.
But I would like to present it as an old Chinese calligraphy work of art at least from 19th centuries.

Dimensions: 24×12cm

Finely detailed carved bamboo bitong with five panels depicting classic three friends of winter and scholar themes. I bought this in Guangxi Zhuang, in 1995, late Republic period. There is a hole intentionally drilled at the bottom, otherwise excellent condition. H: 13.4cm/5.2in and D: 6.8cm/2.8in.