Spoils of Time Asian Ceramics and Works of Art
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All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Porcelain : Pre 1930 item #1328468
Spoils of Time
all sold, post Vervendi auction
One Finely formed and decorated Japanese blue and white porcelain dish. The deep, foliate rim fired to chocolate brown along the edge is suggestive of kakiemon influence. Decoration of figure seated in royal ease pose, perhaps Kannon, in rich foliate garden setting centered by repetitive characters (perhaps suggestive of sutra or chants) inside the deep rim. The Buddhist motif is unusual. Spurious Ming Chenghua mark. Good condition. Diameter, 7 5/8 inches. Ca 1900/early 20th century. (Five like this available: Winning bidder may acquire one each at the winning bid price, up to five.)
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Swords and Related : Pre 1800 item #1343239
Spoils of Time
sold
A simple, small but stout iron tsuba. The Myochin line of metal workers were armor makers who also produced tsuba. The simple decoration upper-right here could be a flower head or a snowflake. Udenuki-ana appear lower left. Good condition. Height 2 3/4 inches (69 cm), Width 2 9/16 inches (65 cm), and 6/32 of an inche (5 mm) thick.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Porcelain : Pre 1837 VR item #1345055
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Sold
An Arita porcelain seashell form, scalloped dish with tall foot. Enamel decoration of Ho-o (Japanese mythological Phoenix) in the Kakiemon pallete - black, red, blue, green, yellow and gold overglaze enamel - applied over the glaze inside the dish. Slightly opaque white, large bubble suffused glaze with faint celadon pooling in recesses. Kiln grit adhering to the unglazed foot rim. An old label remains taped inside the foot proclaiming the dish to be 18th century Kakiemon ware (but probably Arita and possibly as late as the 19th century.) Very good condition. Length, 6 11/16 inches (17 cm). Width, 5 1/4 inches (13.3 cm). Height: 1 1/8 inches (3 cm).
All Items : Vintage Arts : Decorative Art : Organics : Wood : Pre 1950 item #1218172
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A Black Forest carved wood sculptural study of a wild boar with a 'don't mess with me' aura. The boldly carved and detailed boar, stained, on carved wood plinth, unstained, portraying coarse terrain. Signed bottom of the plinth, "Evert E Klund". In different hand, "'Gunthers (with an umlaut over the 'u'), Germany' Nov. 1946". Ink stamped mark (three times) of an anchor flanked by two stylized 'E's. The next owner may wish to outline over one of the anchor marks before they all completely fade away. I was in Oberammergau during my 2013 Summer vacation and visited some of the wood carving shops where I spotted a new example of similar work. That is not to say that Gunther's or Evert E Klund was from that area but may be more likely than not this is southern Bavarian work. Good condition. Boar length, about 8 inches (20.32 cm) from snout to back left hoof. Plinth length, about 10 inches (25.4 cm).
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Stoneware : Pre 1837 VR item #1157300
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Sold
An Edo period Oribe sake bottle of simple but full proportions and with classically Japanese Zen decoration - austerely yet sensitively placed grass and blooms decoration in iron oxide on the softly crackled opaque off-white glaze ever so slightly scorched in the kiln on two sides where the body is almost slightly exposed and oxidized to a buff tone at those points. The cut foot also glazed save for a crescent reserve around the center where the warm gray body is exposed. The rim and neck glazed green with tinges leaning bluer and oxidizing to a reddish-brown where the glaze has pooled - all with a very slight hint of iridescence to the finely crazed glazed. Five, parallel incised rings around the shoulder before transitioning to the oatmeal colored opaque walls. Anonymous. Good condition. Height 7 inches.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Chinese : Scholar Art : Pre 1910 item #1287958
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Chinese bronze shi (or foo) lion seal. Four character seal mark. Good condition. Height, little more than 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm)
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Southeast Asian : Ceramics : Pre 1900 item #1282665
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Sold
A Thai market Chinese porcelain bowl. Turquoise, iron red, white, yellow, blue, green, black and magenta enamel decoration. Known as Benjarong, this class of porcelain made and decorated for the Thai taste of the period is so unique to that market that it is often thought of as a Thai ceramic. Metal covered rim and foot. The present example has wear and minor loss to the enamel in the bowl and a hairline crack from the rim (illustrated.) Condition issues are not uncommon with 19th century Southeast Asian market Chinese porcelain which also helps to explain the popularity of metal rims on these (perhaps more vigorously used) ceramics. The bowl in otherwise good condition with body and glaze crawling inside the foot from the firing. Bowl diameter a little more than 7 inches (17.8 cm), Height 3 5/8 inches (9.21 cm)
All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Asian : Chinese : Paintings : Pre 1980 item #1286666
Spoils of Time
Sold in Vervendi March 2015 auction
Chinese scroll painting depicting figures in boats in mountainous landscape with bridge and retreats. A note attached by old paperclip (the note very dry and brittle with age) indicates "Chien Chien-chiu, member of the legislative Yuan and chief, Women's Activities Section, KMT". A search on the name paired with Kuomintang finds that Chien Chien-chiu was a member of the Central Committee of the KMT at least between 1969 and 1973 when nominated with eight others by Chiang Kai-shek to the presidium for its Fourth Plenary Session. This is interesting whether Chien Chien-chiu is the artist or presented the painting as it illustrates the tradition of literati interest and scholarship among statespeople in Chinese culture. The painting is in good, clean condition with wrinkles/folds in the mounting not intruding terribly into the paper of the painting (will remount nicely.) The scroll ends are buffalo horn. Painting height 27 1/8 inches (68.9 cm), width 11 5/18 inches (28.65 cm). Mounting height about 53 1/4 inches (135.3 cm), width 14 1/2 inches (36.83 cm)
All Items : Vintage Arts : Regional Art : Pre 1930 item #1232722
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Sold
Set of three Japanese blue and white porcelain choko. Alternating panels of bamboo and flower decoration. Three friends of winter roundel inside cups. Patterned bands inside rim and above foot. Good condition with minor "flea bites" to rims. Each about 2 7/8 inches (7.3 cm) high and about 3 3/8 inches (8.57 cm) diameter.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Swords and Related : Pre 1900 item #1199170
Spoils of Time
Sold - Switzerland
A late Edo iron tsuba with chisled decoration of a pine trunk and boughs on one side and flowering prunus blossom with bamboo on the other side. The three representations comprising the "Three Friends of Winter". The simplicity of the chiseled smooth surface successfully imitating sumi-e painting. Good condition - presenting more nicely than in the lighting used for our photography. Emits a clear tone when tapped. A pleasing piece that would add character to a prospective blade. The seppa-ana has about a 1 1/16 inch by 3/8 inch clearance for a nakago with low shinogi-ji.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Swords and Related : Pre 1837 VR item #1397299
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Sold
A Japanese iron war fan, or 'Gunbai'. These were accessories used on the battlefield to fan in heat but also as lethal, close quarter defensive accessories. A rare item not commonly encountered on the market. Black lacquered and with gold lacquer kanji quoting Sun Tzu (fifth century Chinese political and war strategist). "Swift as the wind, quiet as the forest, fierce as fire, immovable as the mountain", from 'The Art of War', popularized by 16th century Japanese warlord and Buddhist layman, Takeda Shingen. This fan is probably not earlier than the Edo period (1603-1868). Condition is fair with some lacquer loss. Length, 19 7/8 inches. More pictures coming
All Items : Popular Collectibles : Militaria : Souvenirs : Pre 1910 item #1315199
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Sold
A German porcelain regimental stein commemorating the service of reservist Kupperling in the 11th Train Battalion at Cassel Germany from 1904 to 1906. Other surnames on the unit roster are painted on the sides. A lithopane bottom shows, against light, a reservist and fraulein against a village landscape. The pewter top is a bit loose at the joint and in its grip on the handle, has a slight warp along the rim and the stein was acquired with the horse flattened a bit but easily pulled back up (probably a fairly high lead content in the pewter alloy.) One of the struts under the horse is severed (see detailed illustration) but could be easily soldered by a metal specialist. Otherwise all good condition with no faults to the porcelain. Total height to top of the horse and rider finial, about 11 1/8 inches (28.26 cm)
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Chinese : Metalwork : Pre AD 1000 item #1310460
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A Han dynasty bronze hu vase. Raised on high, cupped foot. The body cast with three grooves bands around the circumference and below the girth. Another three grooved bands (one smaller) above the girth. Two mask handles with loose rings (original to the vase) on opposing sides of the shoulder. One larger grooved band under the rim. Condition sound with the vessel of solid casting, no active rust and good patina. Some old losses along the foot rim and holes under the girth on one side possibly from an impact or once active rust. The bottom once drilled for a lamp and now plugged (see illustration of inside bottom.) A good metalworker could easily patch the holes and losses for aesthetic display (whether with patinated bronze or with another material such as gold so as not to hide the conservation. Height, about 13 3/8 inches (about 34 cm). For examples of the same form, patina and grooved bands, see Christies 2009 sale 5812 lot 144 and Sothebys 2011 sale 8722 lot 310. Weight may be a factor to ship this item. When placing this vase on our scale it errors out at over 5 kg or 11 lb.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Swords and Related : Pre 1700 item #1318313
Spoils of Time
Sold
An iron mokogata form iron tsuba with surface and patina indicating significant age. Some folds apparent in the iron, tekkotsu ("iron bones" describing irregularities in surface resulting from gradual wearing away of softer iron, leaving more refined, harder iron), rim slightly raised around the hammered plate. The raised decoration of the hare and vine in quintessentially Japanese taste - thick gold overlaid details. This would work nicely on a Yamashiro or other slender, old blade. Good condition with light rubbing of patina on rim, scratching to the gold overliad hare, and light rust on plate (should be manageable with light application of clove oil until arrested [we have begun this process].) Length, 2 15/16 inches (7.46 cm). Width, 2 11/16 inches (6.82 cm)
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Lacquer : Pre 1900 item #1229996
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Distressed Japanese Iki mask with crystal eyes. Gofun finish over dry lacquer composition. Details including veins, wrinkles and furrows. The surface is in a distressed state with significant losses and some 'alligatored' texture possibly from exposure to elements. Would make a worthy conservation project for someone with the patience to recoat and touch up losses (the missing left ear being most challenging.) Length, about 9 1/4 inches (23.49 cm)
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Devotional Objects : Pre 1837 VR item #1091361
Spoils of Time
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A Japanese carved and lacquered wood figure of a Buddhist Guardian. (Originally part of a small scale group comprised of at least a central figure and pair of acolytes.) Up to 12 such guardian figures are possible in a temple grouping. Condition is good and presentable with one small loss of wood to one sleeve and some minor lacquer losses. Missing are a nimbus and possibly an ornament atop the helmet. Height: 9 3/8 inch (23.8cm) including a 3/16 (1.9cm) inch high base to which it is affixed.
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Porcelain : Pre 1800 item #1230354
Spoils of Time
Sold
Japanese ko-sometsuke porcelain nagazara (tray form dish) with scalloped corners. With creative blue underglaze depiction of pine boughs and cones in and centered within double lined blue rectangle by the cavetto. The sides with decoration of a literati scroll with berried vines. A narrow key fret band adorns along the outside of the foot rim. A six character mark appears inside the rectangular foot rim. This strongly potted and decorated piece exhibits freedom of expression not bridled by repetitive production of established patterns. We believe it to be from a private kiln under the patronage of some feudal lord and showing independence of both cultivated patronage and accomplished production even if a bit more primitive than production from known, leading kilns. We feel it must be 18th century. Some traces of iron oxide dot the cobalt blue decoration. The unglazed foot burnt in places to a slight buff color. Condition is very good. A few small spots inside the tray rise above the glaze and are burnt brown so dating to the firing. Length 8 1/2 inches (21.59 cm). Width 4 1/2 inches (11.43 cm)
All Items : Antiques : Regional Art : Asian : Japanese : Lacquer : Pre 1900 item #1091256
Spoils of Time
Sold, Shipped to Italy
A 19th century Japanese kyodai (mirror stand) comprised of the stand on two drawer chest. Decorated with gold hiramaki-e and nashiji lacquer techniques depicting pines, prunus and grasses in rocky landscape. The prunus blossoms rendered in oxidized silver haku-e with gold details. Engraved metal terminals adorn scrolled elements and the base of the holder. Two metal insets with Paulownia Mon also adorn the mirror holder as well as the two drawer pulls. Gilt mostly worn from the metal ornaments but with noticeable traces on the Mon insets. The Paulownia Mon has been said to rank second only to the Chrysanthemum. The mon was used by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, conferred by him to successful generals and is associated with branches of the Matsudaira clan among others. Kyodai (mirror stands) were an important part of a wedding trousseau. Condition is adequate for a study piece and for a dramatic and presentable decoration. The mirror holder is in relatively good condition, the drawer fronts in reasonably good restored condition, but the sides of the chest with some distress and losses (a worthy conservation project if one is inclined.) With the mirror holder removed, fading (from light and wear) can be observed between the covered area and the rest of the top [see our enlargement 9]. We will be happy to e-mail full size copies of any of our enlargements in response to requests for greater detail. Overall height: 24 3/4 in (62.86 cm). Chest height: 10 1/4 in (26 cm). Length and Width both 10 3/4 in (27.3 cm). Note that mirror holder detaches but will still require a fairly sizeable box to ship safely (shipping and packing extra.)