19th century kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke, the top being Chinese carving adopted as netsuke, with scene of 5 scholars among various trees and pavilions. Excellent quality work with deep undercarving, beautiful wear and patina, in great condition, dark hardwood bowl with old natural stable lines, peg at the back for the cord. Bowl diameter 1.76 inches.

A massive mounted Lion head or mask table receiver in solid bronze, c. 1650-1680.

A very early lion mask as an ornamented mechanical return on an oversized late renassance pool table from a noble estate.

A very rare early prototype of the mechanical returns from the later 18th.-19th. century french tables. This lion mask is really solidly made in an attractive 17th. century bronze alloy. The mask expertly modelled with sensitive features and plenty of details...

19th century or earlier Japanese magatama bead made out of lapis lazuli. Magatama are curved beads which first appeared in Japan during the Jomon period (circa 1000 BCE), and in Korea during the Prehistoric period, mainly in the Bronze Age and Neolithic. They are found in mounded tumulus graves as offerings to deities, and continued to be popular with the ruling elite throughout the Kofun Period, and are often romanticized as indicative of the Yamato Dynasty of Japan...

Late Meiji (1890s - 1910s) Japanese bamboo wrist rest used by painters and calligraphers, with low relief carving of an iris flower about to bloom and cursively written poem. Beautiful subtle piece, superb quality carving, rich warm patina, in excellent condition. Wonderful object for a scholar’s desk. Size 6 1/4 x 1 1/2 inches.

Tiffany Studios gilt bronze Venetian pattern letter holder. Images are the same on both sides. Bottom is marked: Tiffany Studios, New York, 1643.

According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, “The "Venetian" pattern was one of the more elaborate designs for ornamental desk sets. It is described in a 1920 trade catalogue as decorated with fields of richly chased ornament relieved by a deeply carved band of ermines at the base of each piece."

Height: 21.5 cm (8.7 in)
Width: 12 cm (4.9 in)

Chinese Famille Verte porcelain lidded vase; features two main panels of florals including peonies surrounded by rust-red lotus scrolls; standing lappet border at the base; good condition

Width: 8.1 cm (3.2 in)
Height: 5.2 cm (2.1 in)

Fine Chinese diminutive blue and white porcelain squat brush washer; decorated with an underglaze blue and white depiction of an individual standing in a rural landscape; artemisia leaf mark to the base; good condition

Early 19th century Japanese wooden devotional carving of Kannon (Chinese Guanyin, or Avalokiteshvara) - the Boddhisattva of Compassion - enveloped in her robe and cape. Kannon grants deliverance from suffering to anyone who calls upon her name. Wonderful quality work, beautiful tranquil face, graceful flow of her robe. Old small losses to nose and feet as can be see on photos. Marked on the bottom in ink with one character followed by kakihan (monogram of the carver)...

1900-1920s (late Meiji - early Taisho) Japanese burlwood stand with live edge and two sides with wave shaped edges, to be used for placing small objects during tea ceremony or display of okimono. Wonderful dense wood with supremely beautiful texture resembling swirling clouds, in excellent condition. Size 6 x 5 inches, 0.35 inches thick.

1900-1920s (late Meiji - early Taisho) ceramic chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) in bunrin (apple) shape with a single small handle. Unusual Kyoto piece made in neriage (agateware) technique that is achieved by laminating different colored clays together and throwing them on a wheel to develop a swirling and spiraling effect. Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag).Old turned bone lid lined with gold leaf paper on the inside...

Late Meiji (1890s to 1912) Japanese chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) in a shape of a storage jar with 4 mock lug handles. Buff colored stoneware body with free bulbous body bearing the marks of potter’s fingers as he was turning the piece on a wheel. Beautiful glaze turning from brown to off-white towards the bottom of the piece. Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag). Old bone lid lined with gold leaf paper on the inside...

19th century Japanese chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) in a shape of a storage jar with narrow waist and wider shoulders, and 2 mock ring handles. Old Bizen ware with characteristic dark brown clay bearing the marks of potter’s fingers as he was turning the piece on a wheel. Typical Japanese elliptical lines on the bottom left by a string used to cut the item off the turning wheel. Possibly marked by the bottom - see the detail on Enlargement 1...

An attractive round dark green almost black stone seal of the hemispheric form of the Uruk period, 4th.-3rd. mill. BC.

The seal is finely polished and carved with a stylized motif that looks a like an insect.

Size: 20 mm. diameter and 11 mm...

A lovely larger stamp seal in form of a stepped Pyramid, Neo-Hittite Kingdoms of the East Anatolia and West Mesopotamia, 1st. mill. BC.

finely carved and pierced at the top in a light brown stone. The top also engraved. The base engraved with a mythical winged animal.

Size: 21 mm x 21 mm. and 14 mm...

A very interesting large stamp seal with a knob handle, Western Mesopotamian, 1st. mill. BC.

Finely worked and polished seal in a glossy dark stone. The base in engraved with a detailed depiction of a horned animal, crescent above.

Size: 27 mm...

A lovely rectangular stamp seal with a stylized bird handle, North-West Mesopotamia, 2nd. mill. BC.

The base particularly well-engraved for the stone type and period, with two animals in flight.

Size: 22 mm. long and 16 mm. wide and 17 mm. tall.

Condition: Extremely fine, nice patina.

This seal was aquired 1995 and comes with hard impression and original ID-card from below collection.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer ...

19th century Japanese tobacco pipe consisting of a reed stem and 2 brass parts, the mouth one with copper and silver inlaid scholar’s hut. The top of the smoking part bears the signs of wear due to the fact that it was tapped on hard surfaces to empty the bowl. Excellent crisp work, great detailing, characteristic small bowl (Japanese used finely shredded tobacco, and usually made just 2-3 puffs), traces of tobacco residue. Wonderful old piece with pleasant signs of wear. Length 7.5 inches.

Arita hard porcelain dish. The decoration is painted with stylized flowers in underglaze cobalt blue and enamelled with medallions. The edge is coated with a thick chocolate brown enamel, typical. Japanese work from the end of the 17th century or the beginning of the 18th. It is a rare artistic model. Below a mark drawn in blue and traces of pernettes. Good condition. Some enamel skids. Diameter 195mm.