Amsterdam - Antiquities

A charming gosho’ningyô (palace doll) of plump, seated child with a brilliant white skin and a small delicately elegant face, reminiscent of a young noble. The doll is playfully rais...

Batavia (Jakarta), or Sri Lanka, circa 1680-1720 The document or money box is densely carved with fine scrolling vines and lotus flowers. It has a charming heart- shapes silver lock...

Jakarta (Batavia), 18th century, apparently unmarked L. 14 x W. 9.5 x H. 4.7 cm Before settling down to business in the former Dutch East Indies, sirih had to be offered in the mos...

A Dutch colonial ebony cabinet with brass mounts on contemporary black steel frame Batavia (Jakarta), 2nd half 17th century The cabinet has two ...

A spectacular pair of black glass vases each adorned with 13 large handmade gilded wooden lotus flowers and -leaves with refined details. Such a set is known as ‘Jyôka’, and are typically positioned on or beside an altar in a Buddhist temple. The lotus flowers are at different stages of their life (unfurled lotus leaves, buds and blooms) and symbolize the journey towards Buddhist enlightenment. What sets this pair apart is its size; it is considerably larger than many similar sets, making it a rare find. As well as that it has such an extensive array of gilded flowers. The flowers, which are detachable, allow for customizable arrangements within the vases. Period: Japan – lotuses...

A Dutch-colonial ebony two-door cabinet with silver mounts Coromandel Coast, probably Masulipatnam, circa 1650-1680, the silver later H. 64.5 x W. 75 x D. 46 cm The present cabinet...

Mughal India, Gujarat, 2nd half 17th century H. 22.4 x W. 30.3 x D. 26.8 cm This small cabinet has six drawers behind two doors. Originally ordered by the Portuguese, and made afte...

Important unique set of two suits-of-armour (yoroi), complete with two high six-panel screens, that belong together as is indicated by the used family crests (mon). Two crests are used, both belonging to the Nakagawa family of Oka Castle, Ôita prefecture on Kyûshû. They are: – the Nakagawa-kurusu, a circle depicting a Celtic-like cross through a ring. The cross was originally a Christian symbol but after the ban on Christianity in Japan the use of a hidden cross in family crests could continue. – the Nakagawa-kashiwa, two leaves of the Japanese Emperor Oak turned to each other (dakikashiwa mon). The remarkable aspect of this ensemble is the presence of matching crests on both the yoroi and the accompanying folding screens. The kurusu and kashiwa crests adorning the yoroi are elegantly replicated on the screens, providing compelling evidence that these pieces form a harmonious and unified set. This exceptional cohesion between the armour and screens further enhances their artistic and historical value. After the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) had interfered in the battle between the Lord of Bungo Province Ôtomo Yoshi-mune (1558-1605) and the Shimazu of Hyûga Province, he split the Bungo Province in a number of small fiefs and transferred in 1594 Nakagawa Hideshige (1570-1612) from Miki Castle in the Harima Fief to Oka Castle in Kyûshû. The Nakagawa family stayed in possession of Oka Castle till the abolishment of the military use of castles in 1873. In 1884 the Nakagawa family received the title of Count (a title in use till the abolishment of aristocracy in 1947). After the Nakagawa’s left, the castle and the building soon dilapidated and is now known as Oka Castle Ruins. The castle is located in Taketa Village part of Taketa Town in Ôita Province on Kyûshû. > Set of two tall byôbu (folding screens), painted with large red jinmaku (camp enclosure curtain) on a gold leaf ground. The curtains show both crests of the Nakagawa family: one screen depicts two Nakagawa-kurusu crests next to a Nakagawa-kashi crest in the middle, and the other shows the symbols the other way round. Dimensions: Total width 148.66 in/377.6 cm (2 x 25.35 in/64.4 cm, 4 x 24.48 in/62.2 cm); Height 72.63 in/184.5 cm. Period: Japan – Late Edo period (First half 19th century), and maybe even older. > Yoroi with Nakagawa-kashiwa crest: A Japanese black lacquered suit-of-armour (yoroi) completely laced with orange cords (kuro’urushinuri hi’ito odoshi nimai’dô’maru). A thirty-two plate suji’bachi kabuto (helmet with raised ridges) with in front a maedate (fore crest) -with traces of gilding- in the shape of flames, resembling a mythical flaming bird flying down. The fukikaeshi (face guards) and the mabizashi (visor) have the Nakagawa-kashiwa crest in gold maki-e lacquer. Five curved ‘itazane’-plate neck guards (shikoro) laced with orange cords. Together with an ‘angry man...

An antique, outstanding signed suji’bachi kabuto (helmet with ridges) surmounted by a gilt metal maedate (forecrest) shaped like a full moon emerging from the clouds heightened by a ...

A Royal Indonesian Buginese gold and buffalo horn badek dagger Indonesia, Sulawesi, 1st half 18th century L. 54 cm ? The solid gold scabbard is inscribed with a magic square,...

A lovely pair of very detailed carved wooden temple ornaments (kibana) in the shape of elephant-like mythical creatures known as ‘Baku’. Baku are Japan...

Absolute top Quality vase with superb decoration of flowers Cloisonné is a way of enamelling an object, (typically made of copper) whereby fine wires are used to delineate the dec...

Rare Japanese Ainu navy blue cotton robe featuring wide red and white appliquéd bands along the edges with embroidered geometric shapes. Acquired from an Ainu education center in th...

A Portuguese-colonial Japanese Namban lacquer vargueno cabinet Momoyama period, circa 1600 H. 43 x W. 64.5 x D. 36 cm Wood, black lacquered and deco...

An Indonesian Peranakan mother-of-pearl inlaid mastic sirih casket with silver mounts Jakarta (Batavia), circa 1720-1730, the silver hinges marked for Batavia, maker’s mark HS or SH...

Pair of high quality cast iron chôshi (sake ewers) with a detailed lacquered lid. Its body with a refined embossed design of a bird of prey (môchô) perched o...

Rare museum-worthy Japanese lacquered wooden festival support for a flag. In feudal Japan this kind of supports sat on the back of a horse or ox during pr...

Seated Buddhist priest Japan, Kamakura period (1185-1333) or Muromachi period (1333-1573). Different carved hollow blocks of cedar wood joined togeth...

Nicely made and large incense burner or Okimono of a turtle. In earthenware with nice patina. Shimane Prefecture Iwayaki (Nagahama Yaki) Turtle figurine. The head and part of the bac...

Description Sharing with you is this nice pair of Japanese Satsuma candle holders, Obiyama, Meiji/Taisho period. Absolute top quality pieces. ...