Late 19th Century Scholar's Objects

A lovely and luxurious Japanese silver incense burner of lobed melon form, akoda koro, marked jungin and signed Nomura, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan. The silver koro...

Japanese Meiji period cloisonne bowl.

A remarkable 19th century Japanese Meiji cast bronze gourd incense burner with a pierced top with stem handle and supported on three legs, each being a branch with leaves and one with lotus pod.

Bronze and cloisonné enamel dish very finely decorated with an egret in flight above various flowers on a background of copper inclusions and gold powder. The wing decorated in parti...

A sublime Japanese parcel gilt copper hand warmer, hibachi, with chrysanthemum design, Edo Period, 18th century, Japan. The hand warmer, called a...

Japanese Meiji period silver box with shibuichi plaque dating circa 1900. The box of rectangular form with a silver polished case stamped Jungin (J...

Chinese Export silver dinner knife. Overall motif on the handle of dragons with clouds. Single knife could also be used as a letter opener. Stamped markings on the blade.

An exquisite Japanese sterling silver ornamental bonbon dish, circa 1890-1900. The piece was rendered in the shape of a stemmed branch of chrysanthemum blossom and was made for export market. Both botanically realistic and stylish, the piece showcases a high degree of artisanal sensitivity and technical ability of the silversmith who created this lovely piece. The petals that form the exteriors were outlined with deep and fluid relief lines of sculptural quality. The branches and leaves were rendered with attentions to the smallest details, with molding and surface texturizing using chasing in contrast with hammering. The interior of the dish is equipped with a conforming inner dish and when it is taken out, revealing the chased lines. The piece, although practical, is basically an okimono in sculptural form, a work of art on its own. It weighs about 22 ounces. Under the dish, it is marked "Pure Silver" in Kanji and SM in a rectangular cartouche. The research (carried out by Adrien Von Ferscht, an expert and author on Asian Export Silver) identified it to be Sadajiro Musashiya...

A small and delightful Japanese cloisonné and goldstone tripod incense burner and cover, Meiji period, late 19th century, Japan. The small incense burner...

A small and interesting cast bronze archaistic scholar vase with loose ring handles and taotie mask design, late Ming or early Qing Dynasty, mid 17th century, China. The small vase of archaistic hu form, and cast with archaistic designs. Sitting on a tall splayed ring foot, the round body is cast with a large band featuring a ferocious taotie (ogre) mask. The taotie mask in this case id decidedly feline, with a ruyi shaped snout above a whiskered mouth. Two flanges stick out to either side of the mask, reminiscent of ears. A wide, tall neck rises from the body, terminating in a slightly everted mouth. The archaistic cast design on the neck is not as clear, but most likely represents Fusang, a mythical island in the Eastern Sea where the legendary Fusang tree grows. The Fusang tree, home to the mythical Sun Bird...

Meiji period cast bronze hand mirror. Very fine casting quality depicting typical Japanese motifs.

A small and elegant Chinese cloisonné vase for incense tools, Qing Dynasty, 18th/19th century, China. Made for the scholar's studio, this small refined vase, was used to hold incense tools, including a small pair of tongs or chopsticks and spoon. The tools no longer present. Of miniature baluster vase form, the vase beautify proportioned and decorated in the cloisonné enamel technique, with gilt wires forming the cloisons, or partitions. Within the cloisons, colorful enamels have been expertly laid. The small incense tool vase...