20th Century Ceramics

This platter is a traditional style from Jingdezhen, a town long distinguished by imperial patronage. The Willow Ware pattern is a beloved traditional Chinese style that was interpre...

This vase is a traditional porcelain tulipiere from Jingdezhen, a town long distinguished by imperial patronage. In the 17th century tulipiere were used to grow tulip bulbs indoors ...

This platter is a traditional rustic style from Jingdezhen, a town long distinguished by imperial patronage. From the loose handpainted and slightly abstract design we can deduce tha...

Meiji Period signed Fukagawa blue & white fish 'Flounder' plate Japan Circa 1900s We are pleased to offer a rare two -headed (flounder) blue and white signed Fukagawa fish plate me...

This temple jar is a traditional porcelain vessel from Jingdezhen, a town long distinguished by imperial patronage. The ribbed "melon" style porcelain body has been painted with a motif reminiscent of the famous Willow Ware...

Very large rotund-shaped porcelain vase with horizontal ribs and a covering underglaze design of overlapping swirls with a canvas pattern on a white ground. Heightened by gold lustre...

This vase is a traditional porcelain vessel from Jingdezhen, a town long distinguished by imperial patronage. An uncommon blue field with clouds and auspicious creatures set this vas...

This small ceramic block is actually a form of Chinese headrest or neck pillow. Popular during the Qing dynasty, rigid headrests such as this were used by upper-class women to protect their elaborate hairstyles by elevating the head during slumber. This example dates to the mid-20th century and is glazed in the blue-and-white style with dark, cobalt-blue color. Each side of the headrest has a quadrilobe cartouche framing two mythical fu lions playing with a brocade ball, a motif that evokes the idiom "may you and your descendant achieve high rank." A powerful and benevolent guardian, the fu lion (shizi) is the perfect force to protect against nightmares and bad energy. The playful scene is surrounded by a cracked ice pattern dotted with plum blossoms, symbols of winter and longevity. A geometric meander trims the corners and small bats frame coin...

A Chinese blue and white hexagonal porcelain vase from the 20th century with hand-painted bamboo, flowers and calligraphy. Created in China during the 20th century, this porcelain va...

Pair of Chinese blue and white porcelain ginger jar, hand painted all-over stylized foliate decoration with central double happy symbol, 20th century, beautiful object of art for dis...

Meiji Period Fukagawa blue & white fish plates, 2 available Japan Circa 1900s Offering two similar Fukagawa (Attributed) realistically decorated by hand-painting and cobalt blue enamel. With decorated backs, Unmarked. Sold individually. Please let us know if you would like to purchase the top fish plate or the lower plate. The lower plate has some firing marks on the fishes face...

Lovely pair of Chinese blue and white jars with lids made into lamps with a teak base.

An antique Japanese blue and white hand-painted porcelain Seto ware vegetable bowl from the early 20th century, with landscape and calligraphy décor. Produced in one of the six ancient kilns of Japan, this porcelain vegetable bowl features a circular lid adorned with landscape, architecture and calligraphy motifs, sitting above a circular tapering body echoing the motifs from the top. Its blue and white hand-painted décor and simple lines will make this Japanese Seto porcelain...

Pair of Chinese blue and white porcelain lidded tea jars with a cylindrical form and hand decorated with flowers and leaves.

Dubbed as production of the "Chinese Modern Official Kiln", a small group of porcelains of the highest standard were produced in Jingdezhen from 1962-1967, The production was aimed as a revival of the Chinese porcelain after the foundation of the Republic in 1949 in order to serve the purpose of decorating the meeting halls for the newly renewed diplomatic relations around the globe. The best available materials and artists, including the painters and potters, were employed to achieve a high quality that rivaled the pieces produced during the pinnacle years in the porcelain production in the previous Qing dynasty. Due to the breakout of the Cultural Revolution, most of the pieces failed to be used as intended. Most if not all signatures, such as found on this vase, were added later as a hallmark to distinguish them. "Zhong Nai Hai Huai Ren Tang Treasures Porcelain Research Bureau year of 1962". Zhong Nai Hai is the residential and working compound for Chinese political elites in Beijing and Huai Ren Hall being an important meeting hall. The pieces from "Modern Official Kiln" ubiquitously showcase perfectly balanced forms with precision in symmetry. The use of very high quality Gaolin clay resulted in a semi translucent body, often quite thinly potted. The superbly underglaze paint were sandwiched between a pre-applied glaze and then an overglaze, and the elaborate designs were drawn by master painters. Often, there is a hidden red Chinese National Emblem on the interior wall. These features were all well reflected in this piece. The decoration of the blue paint on the vase is of a classic regal composition and the cobalt blue is of a vivid radiating color. Blooming peonies, an old laurel tree with blossom and scholar rocks provide the background and anchor for a pair of peasants. One raises its head to crow while the other one looks down. These motifs are commonly found in classic Chinese scroll paintings, a genre called "Flower and Bird Painting". On the back of the vase, there are Chairman Mao's head portrait watermarked in the glaze as well as a cursive poem with a collection number as shown. For a pair of blue and white vase of the same production, see sale by Singapore International Auction PTE ltd on July 21st, 2019 lot 2014. For a pair of blue and white urns...

A classic Chinese covered porcelain tea container with the double happiness symbol surrounded by six bats, representing health, long life and ...

A striking blue and white vase from the studio of Japanese Potter Makuzu Kozan, also known as Miyagawa Kozan (1842–1916), one of the most established and collected ceramist from Meiji Period. Born as Miyagawa Toranosuke, Kozan established his pottery studio in Yokohama around 1870s and later became one of the appointed artist to the Japanese Imperial household. His work was exhibited in many international fairs that the Meiji government participated at the turn of the century and won many grand prizes. With an impressively large size, this vase was likely made and reserved as a presentation piece for one of the many expositions the studio participated in the early 20th century. It was decorated with underglaze cobalt blue using the novel technique developed by Kozan called Fuki-e (the blow painting), in order to achieve the striking dimensional literary landscape known as "Mountain and Water". Being one of the most creative ceramists, Kozan started experimenting with new chemical colors from the West in the format of his porcelain glaze around 1880s. New colors allowed him to create underglaze designs that appeared bright, smooth and glossy. He even invented his own receipt of cobalt blue to achieve a much brighter yet softer shade, as evident on this vase. To create landscape that is realistic and dimensional, more common in the western paintings, he was inspired by the native Japanese ink painting technique developed around 1900 by Yokoyama Taikan...

Chinese blue and white ceramic vase.

A contemporary artisan made Thai multi-color purple and oxblood vase. Created in Thailand, this vase draws our attention with its multi-color finish showcasing purple and oxblood ton...