"Scholar's Treasures" Chinese Painting, c. 1850

With careful brushwork, this 19th century painting honors the four treasures of the scholar's studio - paper, calligraphy brush, ink, and inkstone. Essenti...

A pillow book was meant to teach a young bride about the art of lovemaking. This rare museum-quality 19th century example is composed of 12 masterfully pai...

Fascinating 19th century Japanese late Edo period six pane funpon screen. Large scale depicting Chinese scholars and officials engaged in leis...

An important Chinese 17th century early Qing Dynasty "Water and Land Ritual" painting, mineral pigment and ink on silk, mounted as a scroll, framed and glazed. The painting depicting groups of heavenly court officials and deities descending from the clouds to participate in the Liberation Rite of Land and Water. The figures all wear full, sumptuous robes, complete with hats indicating their station. The blue, green, red, black and white of the robes decorated with gilt dragon and geometric designs. This painting is interesting in that it incorporates Daosit deities and heavenly officials coming down to participate in the Buddhist rite. There are five distinct groups of figures, each with a small inscribed plaque. Some of the groups are identified as Tian Xian, or Heavenly Immortals. The group at the bottom left are identified as the Sanguan Dadi, or Three Great Emperor-Officials. The Emperor of Heaven is dressed in blue robes with gilt painted dragons. The Emperor of Water wears black robes. The Emperor of Earth wears yellow robes...