Very Rare Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Porcelain Jar - Butterflies

This very rare and attractive blue & white porcelain jar, or vase, was made during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty. It is of a pleasing ovoid form with a short neck and relatively small mouth. The underglaze blue pattern surrounding the wall features two bands of alternating butterflies and peach blossoms.

The significance of this decoration is to celebrate marriage, happiness and long life: the pea...

Small Chinese Transitional Blue & White Porcelain Bowl / Cup (with Chenghua Mark)

This attractive small blue & white porcelain bowl, or cup, was made during the "Transitional" period (c.1630 - 1660) at the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty. The design, in underglaze blue of good colour, features two trees on opposite sides, a prunus (or plum) tree and the pine. The prunus is a symbol of winter but represents the blossom of spring. The pine is a symbol of strength,...

Rare Japanese Early Arita Blue & White Porcelain Bowl - 17th Century

The attractively-shaped porcelain bowl was made during the mid to late 1600s. It is fairly "heavily-potted. The decoration in underglaze blue of good colour to the outer wall features a landscape. The inner surface remains undecorated. It is coated in a clear glaze that is finely crackled to the outer wall in places. To the inner surface there are several larger glaze crackles, only one of which has penetrated the body and ...

Small Chinese Transitional Blue & White Porcelain Dish - Boys

This attractive small blue & white porcelain dish was made during the "Transitional" period (c.1630 - 1660) at the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty. The design, in underglaze blue of good colour, features two sitting male figures either at a meal or playing a game, whilst, what appears to be female figure, looks on. This underside is undecorated apart from an unusual mark enclosed within two fine bands...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Tianqi Porcelain Dish - Ko-sometsuke

This fine and rare blue & white porcelain dish was made during the Tianqii reign (1621 - 1627) of the Ming Dynasty. It was made specifically for export to Japan (a ko-sometsuke dish for use in the tea ceremony).

Firing conditions have resulted in it being rather dark in colour with the underglaze cobalt blue firing more to black than blue. It has a striking and unusual pattern featuring a deer, a crane in flight ...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Tianqi Porcelain Dish - Roosters

This fine and rare blue & white porcelain was made during the Tianqii reign (1621 - 1627) of the Ming Dynasty. The unusual pattern features two roosters standing among tall blossoming plants. Around the inner rim is a wave pattern. The underside is simply decorated with just two thin blue bands. This dish does actually have some characteristics of "kraak" porcelain of the period, "chatter" marks and kiln grit embedded wi...

Rare Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Kraak Porcelain Dish - Duck

This blue & white porcelain dish with a foliated rim, was made during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty, more specifically c.1575-1600). It has an unusual pattern we have not seen before: a duck in a pond within a garden with a Chinese character above it. The border is decorated with a scrolling floral and leaf pattern, as is the border and cavetto to the underside. The glaze is particularly thick as can be se...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Kraak Porcelain Dish - Birds (21 cm)

This fine and very attractive blue & white porcelain dish of good size, and with a foliated rim, was made during the Wanli reign (1573 - 1620) of the Ming Dynasty. The decoration is particularly fine and the underglaze blue is of very good colour. The pattern features in its centre two birds, one standing on a rock within a garden, the other in flight. Around the cavetto are ten roundels containing peach blossoms, le...

Fine Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue & White Porcelain Dish - Peonies

This fine and very attractive blue & white porcelain dish was made in the early 17th Century during the Tianqi (1621 - 1627) or the Chongzhen (1628 - 1644) reign. The decoration in underglaze blue features an elaborate peony spray with a geometric trellis pattern around the rim. The peony is the emblem of Spring and represents wealth, love, honour, affection and feminine beauty.

The underside is much more simply decorated wi...

Fine & Rare Chinese Han Dynasty Glazed Pottery Hu Jar (with fish)

This fine pottery jar (hu) was made during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220). It is made from a fairly high-fired reddish pottery and coated in a particularly attractive thick glossy streaky-green and finely-crackled glaze, the colour of which varies according to its thickness. Interestingly, the drips of glaze to the mouth rim and the pooling of glaze to the flat base show that this jar was fired upside down. The "spurs" embe...

A beautiful early footed bowl of colored glass with sweeping clear glass handles by Iwata Toshichi enclosed in the rare original signed wooden box titled Sango-Iro Garasu Hachi (Coral Colored Glass Bowl). It is 17.5 cm (7 inches) diameter, 14cm tall (5-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition, bearing the artist seal in gold on the base.
Iwata Toshichi (1893-1980) is considered to be the founding father of Modern glass making in Japan. He graduated the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, metal...

A glass Bowl by Iwata Toshichi enclosed in the very rare original signed wooden box titled Ryomimitsuki Kajutsumori (Fruit Dish with Two Handles). Inside the box lid is written: For the 2nd Emerging Glass Solo Exhibition Held at Takashimaya in the Early Summer of 1936. It is 28×24 x 8 cm (11 x 9-3/4 x 3 inches) and is in excellent condition. Acquiring a piece by Toshichi with such detail about its past is a decidedly rare opportunity.
Iwata Toshichi (1893-1980) is considered to be the fo...

A breathtaking box covered entirely in gold with geese taking flight beyond blossoming plum trees overhanging the waters edge. The flowers are in red and silver, the rest of the surface is powdered gold with kirigane inlay of cut squares of gold intimating lichen and shadow on the stones. The themes are repeated on all sides of the box. Inside fans emblazoned with seasonal flowers and pine boughs decorate the Nashiji surface. The box is 29 x 24 x 16 cm (just less than 12 x 10 x 6 inches) and ...

An Extraordinary blue and red Meiping decorated with flanked of the red lotus flowers and Lotus panels, the center with octagonal shaped and beautiful Qirin running among flower scrolls. the original lid with a chrysanthemum on the top. Mark to the neck with "Da Ming Hong Wu Nien Zhe" and possibly of the period or later is possible as well. Condition is perfect. Ming Dynasty 14th Century. Note: it's difficult to firing about underglazed red and underglazed blue because of the different temperat...

A large Chinese snuff bottle of elegant shape, worked in cloisonne enamel on copper, with gilt rims and wires. The stopper is made en suite, with bone spoon. Both sides with a cartouche showing flowers, sourrounded by lotus scrolls. Condition: traces of usage, especially the lower part with verdigris. Dimension: total height: c. 8.7 cm, c. 4.1 cm wide, c. 2 cm deep.

We present a stunning Japanese tea bowl made 80 years ago by the legendary 9th Choraku Ohi (1901-1986), enclosed in its originally signed and sealed wooden box. Highly recommended for sophisticated collections.

The Ninth Chozaemon was the son of the Eigth Chozaemon who had been making tea utencils from age sixteen until his death at age eighty-six. At 26,he received his title of Ninth Ohi Chozaemon following after his father. In the early 1900's, the awareness and appreciation of t...

A good long neck bottle vase with well balance potted and decorated to the body with main classic scroll motif in underglazed red design. Condition is very good, no any crack, no any chips and free from any restoration. Ming Dynasty possibly 16th Century. Found recovery at South Sulawesi area. Height: 29 cm

An incredible work by Furutani Hirofumi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Shigaraki Shizen-yu Hen Hanaire. A striking form covered in glistening green glass and gnarly clusters of black ash, this is an absolute must have by the artist. On the sides the earth is scorched and blackened, rivulets of olive running between. It is 25 x 8.5 x 19.5 cm (10 x 3-1/4 x 8 inches) and is in excellent condition, directly from the artist.
The Churoku-en pottery was established by Furuta...