Bay Area - Scholar's Objects

An antique Burmese set of sixteen double-sided Kammavaca or Buddhist manuscripts, written in Bali in red and black lacquer on a gold leaf ground. This set is accompanied by the original pair of gold leaf and red lacquer pictorial cover boards. Kammavaca are volumes consisting of extracts from the Theravadin Vinaya, that relates to the traditional ceremonies of monks. Together with a manuscript chest...

Carefully carved from a cypress tree burl, this late 19th-century burlwood vessel is known as a brush pot, a container traditionally used to hold select calligraphy brushes in a scho...

Antique Tibetan Thangka painted with horse rider in Mountain View Outside brown fabric with dragons style pattern Overall size: 27' height. 23" width Image sizez: 13.3" height. 13...

We have a unique Japanese aesthetic sense. And only we can introduce unique items through our purchasing channels in Japan and the experience we have gained so far, in such a way that no one else can imitate. This is a stone carved in the image of an old Japanese male genitalia. There is a possibility that it was a natural stone that had been carved by the running water of a river for a long time, but it is more likely that it was carved artificially. In Japan, objects in the shape of male and female genitalia have been made for a long time. The materials used are stone and wood. In the case of stone, some are made from 3,000 yen to 4,000 years ago. At that time, it was used in ceremonies to pray for the prosperity of descendants. In the case of this stone, it was probably dedicated to shrines and village shrines in hopes of prosperity of descendants. This stone is believed to be from before the Edo period. Because two types of rocks are mixed, the color contrast is beautiful. I prepared the pedestal. Also, there are some shallow cracks, but there is no need to worry about breaking the stone. Wooden penises...

An exquisitely hand painted Tibetan Thangka by one of our master artists in Nepal featuring Buddha Shakyamuni. On lotus throne above ocean waves and an altar bowl overflowing with fl...

A tri-pod ceramic incense burner (koro) by Japanese Imperial potter Makuzu Kozan (1842-1916) circa late Meiji to the start of Taisho period (1890-1910s). A fine example of the artist's work belonging to the late part of his underglaze paint phase (started around 1887 until his death), the surface of the koro was painted in beautiful shades of blue to depict a continuous landscape not unlike a traditional ink and watercolor hand scroll. The rise and fall mountains recede and fade into the horizon and are dotted with groves of pines. The sky is painted with a beautiful subtle shade of pink, suggesting a time of sunrise or sunset. The koro is fitted with an ensuite reticulated sterling silver hoya (incense cover), pierced with swirling cloud and marked with "pure silver' in Kanji. The base is signed in underglaze blue "Makuzu Kozan Sei" within a double ring. The piece is beautifully potted in form and the decoration was done with expertise using the novel technique developed by Kozan called Fuki-e (the blow painting), in order to achieve the striking landscape known as "Mountain and Water" with sense of dimensions and gradient, the poetic effects normally conveyed only by sumi ink staining on paper. The piece comes with an unsigned tomobako (wood storage box) of a recent age. Also known as Miyagawa Kozan (1842–1916), Makuzu Kozan was 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 artists 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. 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...

An old early 20th century granite stone "Crowned" Buddha - Shyaka Nyorai Sakyamuni- sculpture with staff and "Hoju" the wish granting jewel in her left hand, the whole perched upon...

A large elmwood daybed from Shandong province, China. The color and patina of the daybed has been kept fully original, but repairs have been made to the woven seat as it was already ...

This long bamboo pipe dates to the late 19th century and was originally used for smoking opium. Unlike a tobacco pipe, the opium pipe was designed especially to allow resinous opium ...

With closed eyes and a gentle expression, this large stone Buddha head brings calm and serenity to its surroundings. The hand-carved figure depicts the historic Buddha Shakyamuni, also known as Shaka, Gautama Buddha...

From our most recent Japanese acquisitions Hand-Painted Double Tea Master Scroll (2) entitled: Tea Ceremony Rules of Matsudaira Fumai (1751-1818) Includes a later wooden collecto...

A good antique Early 19th Century Southeast Asian Bronze Buddha statue, Circa 1800. The Buddha seated upon a triangular shaped base with lotus decoration, the Buddha's hands posed i...