Eight petal Chinese Tang dynasty (618-907) foliate form bronze mirror with central pierced knob and four relief characters reading “long life, riches, and honor” (chang ming fu gui). 7 1/4” diameter. Good condition overall with typical wear and extensive patina. From the estate of Gerhard Lohmeier, a Diplomat at the German Embassy in Beijing from 1985 to 1989.
Width approximately 17 cm (across the handles). More pictures and description are available. In good condition.
A large and finely cast Chinese bronze censer and cover modelled as a seated qilin looking back over its shoulder, the unusual saddle-shaped cover with a short funnel for the exit of smoke. Qing dynasty, 18th century. 34 cms high. Good condition with a good old patina.
A parcel-gilt silver cricket box and its cover. The body of the box is decorated with embossed flowers in cartouches, and its base is pierced with an intricate lattice design. The lid is also decorated with embossed concentric decorations, at the center with flowers in an octogonal frame, and around the rim with large fowers of various forms. China, early 19th cetury, maybe earlier. Diameter: 7.7 cm. Height: 4.4 cm. Very good condition...
A Chinese bronze slender pear-shaped vase unusually cast in high relief with two guei dragons, each with long double-ended tail, one reaching the base, the other the rim. 31 cms, late Ming dynasty, 16th/17th century.
A couple of shallow knocks to the underside. Otherwise good condition.
Rare cane in silver and precious wood. It is a real walking cane (and not a thin umbrella handle reemployed) as evidenced by the large ball knob that we have well in hand. The cast silver pommel is chiseled with two dragons fighting and scenes of daily life, fishermen, plowman, warrior? On the top of the pommel a Chinese character protrudes, it is finely chiseled with broken lines in the style of "ice crack" (frosted cracks) which here certainly have a meaning which unfortunately escapes us...
A pair of well cast Chinese bronze flower vases, Yuan/early Ming dynasty, 14th/15th century, square section, with dragon head and loose ring handles. 23 cms.
Some original casting faults, but no damage or repair.
A half part of a military tally, finley cast in the form of a crouching tiger. Inside the tally is a protruding character and two round holes. Beneath the tally, nine incised halves of characters.The tally is made of bronze, with remnants of the original gilding and a fine patina. China, Early Ming dynasty or earlier. Height: 4.2 cm. Length: 8.2 cm. Very good condition.
NOTE: a tally was used to command troops in ancient China...
Japanese bronze sculpture of a tanuki. It represented as a Buddhist priest, wrapped in a cloak and lying on a mokugyo (a percussion instrument made of a fish-shaped wooden block and a stick, used to accompany the recitation of sutras).
The tanuki (raccoon dog) is a legendary Japanese animal with magical powers and can transform itself...
Statue of a snarling lion holding a smaller lion under its front paws, resting on a rectangular base. Bronze, with fine dark green patina with reddish areas. China, Ming Dynasty. Length: 6.7 cm. Height: 5.7 cm. Very good condition.
A heavily cast Chinese gold splash bronze two-handled bombe censer on slightly flared foot. Some wear, good old patina. 13 cms wide. Mid Qing dynasty, probably 18th century, Xuande mark.
Three Mandarin Hat Finials.
A clear glass of the 5th rank.
Two gilt of the 7/9th ranks.
Chinese Qing 1644-1911.
Height of clear finial; 4 1/8" (10.3 cm).
Condition; minor faults, slight corrosion to small gilt finial.
A pair of finely cast Chinese bronze gu-shaped vases,17th/18th century, with gilt bronze mounted bases and liners, the mounts probably French, 18th/19th century. 16.5cms high.
A Chinese parcel gilt bronze incense-burner and cover modelled as an immortal on a mule, late Ming dynasty. 23 cms.
A Chinese bronze vase with dragon head handles, well cast with two bands of taotie masks above a band of blade shaped panels of further masks, the details and eyes of the beasts picked out in gold and silver. Height 12in, 31cms. Heavily cast, weight 2500g. Mid Qing dynasty, 18th/early 19th century.
An Attractive Archaic Bronze Tripod Censer and Cover.
The body cast with Taotie masks on a key fret ground.
The pierced cover with a well cast Dog of Fo.
His left paw resting on a ribboned brocade ball.
Chinese 19thC.
Height; 7 3/4" (19.6 cm).
Condition; both handles have been reattached with solder
Small cast bronze incense burner. Ding (tripod) shape. Beautiful casting and neat finish. The sobriety of the decor and the perfection of the volumes giving this small creation a powerful yet elegant appearance suggest that it is a very old censer, probably from the Song period. An excellent very old patina stained with verdigris in places would be compatible with this earlier period. Height 82mm. Fine condition.
A fine small Chinese silver-inlaid bronze censer for the scholar's table modelled as an archaic ding. Early Qing dynasty, 17th/early 18th century. Height 11.5 cms. 471g.
Private collection, USA.