Japanese temple carving depicting a dragon (Ryu) and a tiger (Tora), with background of bamboo forest and blossoming plum branches. The dragon is a sacred creature representing great power, strength, and good luck for people that are worthy. The imagery of the dragon fighting the tiger is symbolic of the opposing forces of yin and yang.

19th Century Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 26" H x 16" x 2 1/2"

A very interesting chawan (tea bowl) dating from the Korean Joseon period (Richo in Japanese; 1392-1897). This particular piece appears to date from the 17th or 18th century and comes with a box that looks to have been furnished within the last 100 years. Over the long history of tea practice in Japan, at varying times, Korean-ware came into high fashion and ships full of the finest ceramics were brought over to Japan...

Antique Japanese two section Kiri (paulownia) wood clothing tansu. The piece holds 4 drawers, with heavy, square iron pulls, and large round lock plates incised with 3 circle mon. Original, natural finish wood.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 35.5" L x 16.5" D x 47.5" H

An interesting Chinese Ming Dynasty Blue and white Bowl. Note there is some fritting, chipping and wear to the rim, but otherwise in good condition. High resolution images may be emailed on request.

Japanese single section clothing tansu, with Kuri burl hardwood front drawers, iron lock plates with foliate edges, warabite pulls, fan-shaped iron corner hardware. The bottom corner has a safe door with round lock plate and ring pull. Inside are the two smallest drawers in the chest.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 34 1/4" x 15" x 18 3/4" H

Japanese bronze vase with a wide, flattened body shape, the tall cylindrical neck rendered with bamboo stalk texture. The handles of the vase are a pair of leaping rabbits over low relief waves. The foot of the vase is imprinted with the artist cartouche.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 7 1/2" x 7" x 6"

Elegantly shaped Ki-Seto Chawan from the Edo Period, early 19th century with a rarely seen gold rim. Precious metal rings were added when the chawan was made for the aristocracy and for the high nobility.

The beautiful and glossy glaze (guinomi-de) has a fantastic crazing. The bowl has also a decoration with vivid tanpan marks ( copper green marks ).

This Ki-Seto tea bowl is in very good condition, very unusual for a chawan of this age...

Relics of the Nile is pleased to offer this brown flint curved blade knife with chipped tail style handle. This knife was created from one large piece of flint; using localized pressure (as opposed to striking the blade with a hammerstone), a craftsman precisely removed small flakes of flint to produce the ripple-flake on both sides and serrated cutting edge. This bade is typical of the Naqada II to 2nd Dynasty style, ca. 3,500 - 2,686 B.C....

Relics of the Nile is pleased to offer this rare flint mace head. These types of unusual flat flint implements of donut form with ground hollow centers and worked outer and inner edges were most likely mace heads. Penned #35. The flint mace head is professionally custom mounted for ready display. The artifact itself measures 3 3⁄4”, excluding the size of the mount. Predynastic period, ca 3,600 B.C. Provenance: Aquired from Arte Primitivo Published in catalog...

A hirado ware porcelain figure of the mythical creature baku, the dream eater. This beast is a chimera with the features of an elephant, an ox, a rhinoceros and a tiger. The expert artist hand-carved every detail of the figure with fine lines, the flames and spines along its back carved in high relief. The glaring eyes are left bare with black pupils while the rest of its body is glazed white...

Japanese hirado ware porcelain figure of a tiger. With fully hand-carved fur pattern, whiskers, a wide grin with front fangs exposed. The tiger is glazed in white with the pupils of the eyes left buff. The four paws of the tiger have been hand-sculpted with the toes and claws on the bottom of the figure. The bottom and nostrils of the tiger are pierced through for air to escape during firing.

Published in:
"Hirado Ware, by C. Philip Cardeiro, pg...

Thangka of the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Manjushri, the central figure holding her flaming sword. Depicting the five peaceful manifestations of Manjushri, including the wrathful Mahakala as protector deity of the thangka. There are five monasteries depicted in the painting, each with title describing their identity. WuTai-shan, the five-peak mountain, is shown which contains the five monasteries. At the top of the thangka is Tsongkhapa, the Wisdom manifestation...

Maeda Toshinaga was a Japanese daimyo, who was the second head of the Kasa Domain. He was the eldest son of Maeda Toshiie and married one of Oda Nobunaga's daughters, Ei-Hime. He supported Tokugawa Ieyasu and, after receiving his brother Toshimasa's lands (Noto, 215,000 Koku), controlled a total of 1,250,000 Koku, an amount exceeded only by the Shogunate. Toshinaga built and resided in the Kanazawa Castle. He had no children and adopted his brother Toshitsune as his heir...

A high quality porcelain deep sided saucer decorated with an untied bouquet of flowers slightly off center and two small blossoms on either side of the bouquet. The underside inside the foot is impressed with the Nymphenburg mark, the letter “K” and the fraction “1/7”. The saucer is 5 1/8 inches (13 cm) diameter.

Condition: No chips cracks hairlines or repairs. Some very light scratching on the inside of the saucer and a couple of very minor firing flaws.

Unusual Japanese stacking box comprised of 10 shallow compartments for the storage of important documents or calligraphy implements. The edges of each compartment are reinforced with hand-forged iron plates. The tall box is held together by a long cord.

Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 9.5" : x 14" D x 16.5" H

A porcelain plate with a gilt edge, embossed border, the molded edge of the well decorated with elaborate gilding centering on a hand painted botanical specimen of a Feverfew; a member of the daisy family. The plant name is written in script in red enamel and the number “857” in gilt are written on the back. The combination of the embossed border, the botanical sample and the heavy porcelain all indicate that the plate was made and decorated at Spode...

Antique Japanese bar tansu with dramatic natural Keyaki burl front hardwood. The locking bar has hand-forged iron bamboo motif plating; Its handle is a 16 petal chrysanthemum Imperial seal mon. The piece has 4 large drawers and a safe box containing 2 smaller drawers. Original condition lacquer finish.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 24" x 12" x 24.5" H

Unusual Japanese single section kannon biraki tansu. This safe chest holds an open top shelf and 2 drawers behind the front hinged locking doors.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 27.5" x 14" x 13.5" H