A Japanese totai cloisonne (on ceramic body) bottle vase. Blue, white, rose, green, red and yellow enamel decoration of flowers. A silver rim encasement original to the vase. Good condition. Height: 5 inches
An interesting Hizen-yaki, Arita kilns foliate rimmed bowl. Center decoration of a Chinese scholar in tropical landscape. The cavetto and exterior decorated in the Kraak manner. A spurious four character Xuande mark on the bottom, inside the unglazed high foot rim. 19th century. Good condition. Diameter, about 6 5/8 inches. Height, about 2 2/8 inches.
A Hirado blue and white porcelain censer with pierced lattice work cover and sides. Lion masks in relief on opposing sides. Decoration of aromatic flowers and wisps of burning incense. Three feet elevate the censer above surfaces. Early Showa period. Good condition. Lion mask to Lion mask nearly 4 inches in length. Height, covered, just over 3 inches.
A good Hizen-yaki, Arita kilns octagonal blue and white porcelain bowl. Shonsui ‘three friends if winter, decoration in roundels among shape patterns. A single Minogame decorates the interior center. A Fuku mark appear center of the bottom, inside the unglazed ring foot. 19th century. Good condition. 5 inches at widest points. Little more than 3 inches at highest points.
A teal colored cloisonne enamel vase with peony and vine decoration within fine silver wire and with subtle blue on yellow hues accenting the petals and leaves. Two character signature on the silver footrim and in the box (and with printed material) accompanied when acquired. Excellent condition. Height, 8 1/2 inches
For the tea and cloisonne collector: A signed totai cloisonne on Kyoto ceramic cha-ire (tea jar). Decoration in red, black rose, pink, green, blue and yellow of flowers, butterfly and other motifs on blue background. The jar with both lid and cover. Late Meiji era (1868 - 1912). Good condition. Height, 3 5/8 inches (9.2 cm)
The small, scalloped bowl with persimmon, light teal and yellow floral decoration with red and black outline. A molded decoration of dragon with jewel in the center. A nicely executed chocolate brown rim consistent with tradition. The verso plain and exhibiting impurities and open bubbles in the white glaze. Raised on a ring foot exposing a relatively refined clay. This could be work from another Arita kiln, but perhaps as likely relaxed Kakiemon production after collapse of the supporting export market. We estimate later 18th century. Good condition. Diameter, 5 1/2 inches. Stands about 1 and 1/2 inch from the foot.
A good, small Japanese cloisonne vase. The alternating dragon and phoenix chevron panels symbolize harmony and balance. Lots of engaging, balanced color. Sparkling goldstone embellishment technique demonstrated in backgrounds below the shoulder and in decorative details around the waisted neck. Ginbari (enamel over silver foil) technique demonstrated around the shoulder with opaque sakura and karakusa decoration floating over the clear red background offset by the underlying foil. It's one of those seemingly simple objects that is immediately, visually alluring and then even more captivating as the multiple techniques and attention to detail is appreciated. Meiji era (1868 - 1912). Very good condition. Height, 4 13/16 inches (12.22 cm)
A small Japanese porcelain footed dish. Chrysanthemum sprays in the cavetto, issuing from the rim. Butterflies further adorn the bowl. Probably late 19th century Koransha production. Some Nabeshima characteristics are used including the deep form of the dish, the tall foot with comb pattern, precious objects decoration around the outside, partial blue underglaze decoration in the bowl finished with polychrome enamel, and cash motif along the flattened rim. Departure is made from Nabeshima style, however, with the prolific use of various colors and abundant details. Excellent condition. Dimensions will be added later.
A Kakiemon style porcelain six lobed dish. Cobalt blue underglaze and red, green, yellow, blue and black outline overglaze enamel decoration of 'three friends of winter' (pine, bamboo and prunus). Assymetry of decoration, as well as palette, typical of Kakiemon type porcelains. But the quality of decoration (though good inside the dish), potting and mark speaks to a more general 'Arita' attribution. Some kiln grit adheres inside the foot rim. 19th century. Condition is good, with a few small glaze flakes outside the rim on one lobe, and with some wobble to the potting, and minor kiln faults and light scratches. Diameter from 5 7/8 inches (15.1 cm) to 6 1/4 inches (15.7 cm) [recall the mention of "wobble"]. Height from 1 5/16 (3.3 cm) inches to 1 1/2 inches (3.7 cm).
A well made Japanese cloisonné vase. The alternating dragon and phoenix chevron panels symbolize harmony and balance. Areas of flower, vine and pendant decoration. Lots of engaging, balanced color. Sparkling goldstone embellishment technique demonstrated in dark green background on the shoulder. Some interesting areas of mottled color enamel details. Meiji era (1868 - 1912). Very good condition. Height, about 7 1/4 inches (18.4 cm)
A Hirado blue and white porcelain bowl. Dragon decoration on the interior center. Flowerhead in mokkogata reserves decoration along the interior below the rim with pale iron oxide wash. Intricate dragon and phoenix decoration around the exterior. The unglazed bottom and foot with the smooth biscuit characteristic of the kiln. Taisho period. Good condition. Diameter, 5 1/2 inches. Height, 2 1:8 inches.
A Hizen-yaki, Arita kilns dish in the Kakiemon style. Probably after design examples from the latter kiln. The cavetto with delicate shironuki decoration of sakura blossoms on waves of water. The center undecorated save a single chrysanthemum blossom. Brown rim induced by iron oxide. The exterior with karakusa around the unglazed ring foot centering a spurious mark suggesting the Chinese Ming dynasty. Early 19th century. Good condition. Diameter about 7 3/4 and a little more in places.
A pair of cups and saucers with Dragons In Compartments (also known as Bengal Tiger) pattern decoration. Probably late 18th century, Barr period Worcester.
One cup is in good condition with some rubbing to the gilding. The other cup has less rubbing but a small flake just inside the rim (the rim edge and exterior outside the flake look and feel substantially good). One saucer with only mild rubbing has an old flake inside the rim (the rim edge and exterior outside the flake look and feel reasonably good). The other saucer is somewhat rubbed but the body and supporting glaze in good condition. (See the second enlargement for the two pieces with a rim flake each).
Saucer diameters, roughly 5 1/8 to 5 1/4 inches. Cups, height about 2 1/4 inches high and about 3 inches diameter.
Higo iron tsuba. Hayashi school Sukashi fish net pattern within mimi. Hitsuana for kozuka and kogai flanking the seppa-dai. Edo period. Good condition but could use a little cleaning and care. Height, 2 15/16 inches. Width, 2 13/16 inches. (About 3/16 inches thick)
A well made Empire period dressing or shaving mirror. Carved mahogany and mahogany veneer with acanthus shaped feet and bellflower form mirror supports. Style transitional to Art Nouveau. American, 19th century. Good, serviceable condition with expected patina and checking of original wood surface. Probably original glass. Height, 25 1/2 inches. Width at widest, 27 inches. Depth, 12 5/8 inches.
Soon to be introduced for availability of inspection at The Antique Center at Historic Savage Mill, Maryland
A simple, four lobed armorer's tsuba with simple pierced decoration perhaps depicting a landscape with structure. The udenuki-ana (cord holes) have the effect of completing the illusion of a Sesshu-like landscape. The saotome were armorers turned tsuba makers who worked in this manner and scale. Good condition with good tekkotsu. Sengoku era. 2 15/16 (7.46 cm) inches x 2 5/8 (6.67 cm) inches
A matched pair of iron tsuba. Geese and ginger. Not a true daisho pair, the workmanship and subject are close enough to consider for a daisho with smaller kasane for the daito. Daigoro was a later Akasaka district artist known for this motif. Later Edo (19th century). Good condition. Larger, 3 by 2 5/8 inches. Smaller 2 5/8 inches by 2 3/8 inches. Note that the smaller one is a bit thicker (see pics).