
Beautiful long jade necklace with lapis lazuli and large carved jade pendant
Price: £950
Chinese Embroidered Silk Table Screen 1960s
Price: £30
Long Art Deco necklace with spinach jade 1930s
Price: £100
Chinese carved hardwood frame, 1920s
Price: £55
Translucent celadon jade recumbent horse
Price: £25
Chinese Export Nanking Pattern Saucer, Qianlong period (1736-1795)
Price: £75
Japanese Seto Ware Blue and White Vase, late C19th
Price: £450A fine quality Japanese porcelain vase, the ovoid body with a curved flaring foot and rising to a tall concave neck with a well defined shoulder, applied elephant and ring handles to the sides and a galleried rim, decorated in bright underglaze blue with two bands of stylised flowering chrysanthemum at the top and bottom between a continuous scene of flowering peony and chrysanthemum, the top rim with repeating whorl design on the exterior and stylised leaf design inside, the stepped base glazed white.
The kilns at Seto in the Aichi prefecture of Japan and situated close to Nagoya form one of the traditional ‘Nihon Rokkoyo’, the six old kilns of medieval Japan. The location of Seto was ideal for the production of ceramics with an abundance nearby of both porcelain clay and forests to provide firewood for the kilns. Production began as early as the Heian period (794-1185) and continued without a break thereafter, the earlier pieces being more pottery forms copying Chinese wares. It was in the early nineteenth century that the kilns turned to producing porcelains decorated in underglaze blue and white, a development initiated by the potter Tamikichi Kato who went to Arita to learn the techniques of its production there, returning to Seto in 1807. Production grew and developed and was directed towards the export market in the Meiji period (1868-1912) with Seto wares being displayed at the European and North American exhibitions and fairs. Their delicately painted designs of birds and flowers proved to be immensely popular and were, in their time, to influence Art Nouveau and Art Deco designs. Some of the forms produced were truly virtuoso creations including, besides vases, screens, jardinieres and even ceramic tables.
Signed pieces are known and besides Tamikichi Kato the distinguished potters included the Kichiemon brothers, Kato Chuji and Kawamoto Jihyoe, and Kawamoto Hansuke. But not all the best pieces carried an artist’s signature as this vase well demonstrates. Formed from fine quality clay, as can be seen from the foot rim (image 10), the complex shape with its spreading base, angled shoulder and galleried rim would have been difficult to create. The handles show remarkable skill with the rings somehow formed so as to hang loose (presumably some form of kiln waster technique was used). The detail and artistry of the painting speaks for itself. Note in particular the shading effects on the peony flowers. While not perhaps an exhibition piece, this vase is definitely of exhibition quality and would be a worthy addition to a collection of nineteenth century Japanese ceramic art.

Striking Art Deco jade necklace
Price: £150
Necklace with soapstone pendant and amber beads
Price: £65
Large Chinese eglomise scent bottle 1950s
Price: £75
Pair of Japanese red lacquered low stands, Taisho period
Price: £150
Pair of Japanese Prints, C20th
Price: £25PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS FREE UK SHIPPING ON THIS ITEM. For international buyers the shipping cost will be reduced by the UK shipping cost, so don't worry if you are outside the UK, you still receive this benefit!

Pair of Japanese Imari Plates, Meiji Period circa 1880
Price: £150
Set of Three Celluloid Figures of Monks, Japanese, first half C20th
Estimate: £20 – 30
Chinese Calligraphy Scroll, Qing Dynasty (1636-1912)
Price: £25
Lot of 2 vintage Chinese miniature cork groups
Price: £25
Lot of 3 vintage Chinese miniature cork groups
Price: £25
Japanese Fukagawa Imari Vase of Sake Bottle Form circa 1880
Price: £180
A Chinese Carved Wood Figure of Budai, signed, C 19th
Price: £75
Chinese Red Lacquer Box and Cover circa 1880
Price: £75
Chinese Rice Grain Plate decorated in underglaze blue, iron red and gold, circa 1900
Price: £45
Chinese Republican Style small Famille Rose Ginger Jar and Cover, late c20th
Price: £20
Framed Chinese Painting of a Court Official, C20th
Price: £25
Unusual Chinese Bowl decorated in the Japanese Kutani Style, early 20th Century
Price: £45
Set of Four Chinese Plates, Beauties of the Red Mansion, Jingdezhen, 1980s
Estimate: £60 – 80
Lot of 3 Chinese bangles
Price: £35
Incredible long jade necklace with large carnelian pendant
Price: £135
Chinese Cloisonne Small Tray decorated with Flowers and Rocks, 19th Century
Price: £150
Outstanding strand of Chinese coral beads
Price: £150
Chinese carving of a Beggar, possibly Shoushan stone, Soapstone stand, C20th
Price: £55
Chinese painting on Silk, Storks and Pine, circa 1900
Price: £25
Chinese Cloisonné Bowl with a wavy edge, 20th Century
Price: £25
Art Deco Chinese Export silver Buckle later converted to a Necklace
Price: £125
Chinese cloisonne bangle with raised enamel decoration circa 1900
Price: £35
Chinese Sancai Glaze Model of a Horse in the Tang Dynasty Style, 20th Century
Estimate: £30 – 40
The Braves and the Fair Men of Letters and Women of Fame of Old China circa 1900
Price: £75Each of the ten characters are described in a double page spread, the right hand containing texts in both Chinese and English and the left hand with hand coloured illustrations on silk , delicately rendered. The book 'works' from right to left and the reverses of the pages are left blank. At each end are fabric covered boards, the front board with a pasted paper inscription in Chinese with a small red seal mark. Other examples are finished with boards in wood, but these are, perhaps, not original or a more deluxe version of the volume.
The illustrations are in excellent condition with the colours still bright. The yellow finish to the paper is original and perhaps intended to give an 'antique' effect. Each of the end boards are very slightly scuffed at the borders. The pages, including the title page and the two end papers, suffer from varying degrees of 'worm hole' perforation. There are also various tears. A selection of illustrations can be seen above and further images (and a more detailed condition report) are, of course, available on request. But these condition issues should not necessarily detract from the charm of the item which is an Englishman's attempt to capture some of the folk lore of China, a land which attracted such popular interest during the Victorian period.

Graduated set of Three Chinese Blue and White Ginger Jars and Covers, 20th Century
Price: £45Although of relatively recent manufacture, the quality of these pieces continues the Chinese ceramic productions of the late nineteenth century and together they form an attractive decorative ensemble for the contemporary interior.

Chinese Cloisonne Shallow Bowl, C19th
Price: £45
Japanese Studio Pottery Vase, signed, C20th
Price: £75
Carved Chinese brown jade necklace
Price: £55
Chinese Pale Celadon Jade Bangle, probably Nineteenth Century
Price: £45Jade is usually divided into two types, nephrite jade and jadeite jade. The latter is heavier and slightly harder, making it more difficult to scratch. The weight of this piece suggests that we do have jadeite here. The stone was selected for carving on the basis of its attractive appearance and the finish, which bears no trace of machine tooled manufacture, suggests a pre twentieth century dating, but certainty in these matters is notoriously difficult
The size of this piece is unusually large, suggesting that it would have been intended for a male wearer. This too suggests an earlier rather than later time of manufacture. The stone is exceptionally pleasant to the hand and would have been an elegant accompaniment to any wardrobe.

Chinese Bronze Mounted Emerald Green Jade pendant, Qing dynasty
Price: £180It has been suggested that the form of the stone indicates it was intended as a handling token, some sort of a 'pass key', but this may well be apocryphal, although it does indeed sit comfortably when gripped. But the decorative qualities of this piece are clear and the maker clearly saw that this was a stone to be exploited and displayed. A contemporary wearer now would certainly attract attention! The weight and quality of the bronze suggest a reasonably early dating, perhaps to the late eighteenth century.

Chinese Soapstone Brushwasher decorated with flowering Lotus, early 20th Century
Price: £45
Chinese Reverse Painted Glass Globe depicting deities and attendants, Modern
Price: £45
Chinese Reverse Painted Glass Globe depicting tigers, Modern
Price: £45
Japanese Polychrome Bowl, Shibata Toki ware, late c20th
Price: £45
Fine quality Japanese Cloisonne bottle form Vase with black ground, late C19th
Price: £45
A Chinese Crackleware Famille Verte Ginger Jar decorated with Warriors circa 1880
Price: £45'Crackleware' glazed pieces, usually with 'bronzed bands, were a staple output of the Chinese potteries from the mid nineteenth century onwards and were produced in a wide variety of mainly vase shape forms, both in polychrome and blue and white and intended as decorative pieces for the Victorian rooms of the West. As with other ceramic types, the quality deteriorated and this piece is typical of late nineteenth century productions of a more modest level of craftsmanship but still retaining a naif charm. As with many ginger jars, this one lacks its original domed cover which would have been decorated to match.

Japanese Fukagawa Imari Bowl, signed, circa 1880
Price: £380The Fukagawa kilns produced the best quality Imari items made in Japan in the late nineteenth century for export to the West. Their history starts with Ezaiemon Fukagawa who in 1856 became head of his family's porcelain business and in 1875 founded Koransha (The Company of the Scented Orchid) in Arita, Japan, to produce tableware for export. In 1894 the modern Fukagawa company was founded by Chuji Fukagawa, with the Fukagawa trade mark of Mount Fuji and a stream, as its trade mark. Dating here is within the Meiji period (1868 - 1912) probably around 1880. This conforms with the script mark used as opposed to the later symbol design.

Chinese Verre Églomisé Snuff Bottle with landscape scenes, fitted box, C20th
Price: £35
Chinese Soapstone Brushwasher with flowering lotus, early C20th
Price: £95
Japanese Ceramic Figural Group of two Geisha, late C19th
Price: £25
Set of Three Japanese Lacquer Nesting Trays, mid to late C20th
Price: £45
Pair of fine quality Japanese Bronze Vases decorated birds, circa 1880
Price: £220
An unusual Pair of Chinese carved Soapstone Vases, circa 1900
Price: £110
Pair of Japanese Blue and White Seto Ware Vases, early C20th
Price: £240The finely drawn brushwork here and the distinctive bright blue are characteristics of pieces made at Seto in Japan in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The city of Seto is located in the Aichi Prefecture and was the location of one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan. Pottery was produced there from the 13th century onwards. The kilns took part in the export of decorative wares to the West from the second half of the nineteenth century onwards producing a wide variety of forms, in particular pairs of vases, but with a speciality in flat plaques and table tops, for which they gained something of a monopoly. Their pieces are usually marked, to include the characters for Seto, and this pair of vases may have originally been signed themselves but with the marks partially obliterated in the firing process. The quality here matches anything else produced by the factories but the light weight and thinly potted body suggests a dating to the early 20th century rather than before, probably during the Taisho period (1912-1926). Nevertheless the skill in craftsmanship is obvious and contributes to a highly attractive pair of ornaments for a contemporary interior.

Set of Japanese Plates decorated with Geisha in landscape scenes, late C20th
Estimate: £20 – 30
Pair of Chinese Paintings on Silk, framed, C20th
Price: £45
Japanese Blue and White Porcelain Bowl decorated with hydrangea, early C20th
Price: £25Hydrangeas flourish in Japan and also carry a hidden meaning of apology and gratitude based on a mythical story of an Emperor, who angered a woman he loved by neglecting her, and gave her in recompense a bunch of blue hydrangeas as a symbol of his deep emotion and gratitude. Used here as a decorative motif, the painting of the flowers is skilful and elegantly combined with the plainer exterior. The paste of the foot rim suggests an early C20th dating, perhaps to the late Taisho era (1912-1926).

Vintage Japanese Doll of a Hat Seller, C20th
Price: £25
Chinese Straw Thread Picture on Silk, framed in original box, late C20th
Price: £45
Japanese Celadon glaze vase with enamel decoration, late C19th
Price: £25
Pair of Chinese Ceramic Shoes, seal mark and with fitted box, C20th
Price: £55
Chinese Fan, painting on silk, 1960s
Price: £15
Two Chinese Fans, painting on silk, 1960s
Price: £15
Chinese Blue and White Snuff Bottle circa 1900
Price: £45
Small Chinese Ginger Jar decorated in Famille Rose enamels, second half C20th
Estimate: £10 – 20
Japanese Arita Blue and White Saucer decorated Gourd and Grapes, mid C20th
Price: £15
Chinese Silk picture of Two Birds and Flowering Plum Blossom, signed, C20th
Price: £20
Chinese provincial double spout Teapot, early C20th
Price: £55
Japanese Arita Square Sake Flask and Cover decorated flowers, C20th
Price: £25
Two jade carvings mounted as a necklace
Price: £125
Very finely carved soapstone pendant necklace
Price: £175
Pair of Japanese Shaped Saucer Dishes, Maruku China, 1940s
Price: £25The Maruku factory seems to have operated in Japan after the second world war producing modest but good quality wares for export, rather in the style of Noritake pieces. Usually their pieces are marked in addition ‘Made in Japan’ but for some reason not here. The forms, colourings and designs here are quite unusual and while modest, these are good quality decorative items suitable for a contemporary interior.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS FREE UK SHIPPING ON THIS ITEM. For international buyers the shipping cost will be reduced by the UK shipping cost, so don't worry if you are outside the UK, you still receive this benefit!

Japanese Satsuma style Censer, 1930s
Price: £15PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS FREE UK SHIPPING ON THIS ITEM. For international buyers the shipping cost will be reduced by the UK shipping cost, so don't worry if you are outside the UK, you still receive this benefit!

A Japanese Hichozan Shinpo Brush washer circa 1880
Price: £10PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS FREE UK SHIPPING ON THIS ITEM. For international buyers the shipping cost will be reduced by the UK shipping cost, so don't worry if you are outside the UK, you still receive this benefit!

Compagnie des Indes style reticulated edge Armorial Plate, Chinese C20th
Estimate: £30 – 40
Two Japanese Woodblock Prints by Toyohara Kunichika, second half C19th
Price: £75Toyohara Kunichika achieved great fame and distinction a Japanese print artist. Born in 1835 he studied under Toyohara Chikanobu and then Utagawa Kunisada (also known as Utagawa Toyokuni III) eventually using a combination of both his teacher’s names to create his own professional one. At first he worked within Kunisada’s studio and when his teacher died in 1865 was asked to design two memorial portraits of him. The beginning of the Meiji era (1868-1912) saw Kunichika issuing his own prints, often in themed series and he became known in particular for his portrayals of kabuki actors, indeed he regarded the theatre as almost his second home. A contemporary once wrote ‘"Print designing, theatre and drinking were his life and for him that was enough.’ He achieved great fame and was rated as one of the masters of woodblock printing. Contemporary observers noted Kunichika's skilful use of colour in his actor prints, but he was also criticized for some of his choices for unlike most artists of the period, he made use of strong reds and dark purples rather than the softer colours used previously, exploiting the recent import of new dyes from Germany. Red, for the Japanese, meant progress and enlightenment so there was probably hidden meaning here. Eventually Kunichika’s lifestyle took its toll and he died in poor health, aged 65. It had been a Japanese custom for people of high cultural standing to write a poem before death. Kunichika's own, inscribed on his grave, reads ‘Since I am tired of painting portraits of people of this world, I will paint portraits of the King of hell and the devils.’ For many years his prints fell out of favour but interest has now revived and Kunichika is regarded as one of the eminently collectible Japanese artists in the field and these two prints are an excellent example of his work.
Each print is accompanied by a printed text on fine paper which presumably describes the character represented. The second of them is accompanied by two sheets one of which has become attached in one small place to the print itself but could probably fairly easily be detached by a restorer. In general there are some typical signs of age with minor losses (illustrated), tears and folding but the colours remain bright and fresh.

Japanese Celadon Dish decorated basket of flowers, circa 1900
Price: £45Celadon glazed wares with enamel decoration in fairly muted colours are a familiar product amongst the ceramics produced by Japanese potters at the end of the nineteenth century but examples of this type of dish are rather less commonly found. The basket of flowers is a regular decorative feature of Chinese ceramics, but given here a slightly different interpretation with the depiction of lotus, the emblem of summer. The mark probably imitates Chinese ‘commendation’ marks inscribed within the foot rim, another nod on the part of the Japanese potters towards their Chinese counterparts.

Floating Flower jade pendant on bead necklace
Price: £175
A very finely carved white pendent on traditional silk cord, Modern
Price: £25
Chinese Reverse Glass Painting of Two Ladies on a Garden Terrace, first half C20th
Price: £240
Vintage Brass Pocket Case with a lid, probably a Vesta case for Matches, circa 1900
Price: £55
Two Vintage Japanese Kokeshi Doll Groups, C20th
Price: £25
Japanese Celadon Ground Tazza with Chinese Nanking decoration, late C19th
Price: £25
Chinese Cloisonné Square Vase on Stand, C20th
Price: £25The cloisonné technique, in which glass derived enamels were set in wire outlines (the so called ‘cloisons’ from the French word), was developed in China in the early Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and then used throughout, right up until the C20th, indeed pieces are still produced today. The style of enamelling here with fairly bold outlines to the decoration and the use of bright enamel colours suggests a dating here to the mid twentieth century which corresponds to the probable date of the accompanying wood stand. Perhaps intended as a desk ornament or possibly a flower vase, this piece could certainly find a home in a contemporary setting.

Chinese Blue and White Box and Cover with pierced lid, late C20th
Price: £25The Charles Sadek Import Company was founded in 1936 by the father and son Charles and Norman Sadek and began by importing decorative items from Japan later broadening their range to a wider variety of suppliers including China. These pieces were sold under the ‘Andrea by Sadek’ brand, named after Norman's daughter Andrea. The business continued to a third generation until it was taken over by Fitz & Floyd in 2015.
This box, then, is a typical example of their range of wares, good quality decorative items marketed at an affordable price. The quality of these boxes can vary and this piece seems to be an above average example.

Japanese Kutani Vase of Water Dropper form, circa 1880
Price: £45Kutani (the word means 'nine valleys') porcelain was made at various factories in the former Kaga province of Japan. The earliest pieces were in a completely different style employing a palette of colours emphasising green, the so called 'Ko Kutani'. Production of this ceased around 1730, and manufacturing was not revived until the early nineteenth century when the more familiar colourings of iron red and gold were introduced. This small vase is typical of pieces exported to the West in fairly large quantities at the end of the nineteenth century. The form suggests a water dropper and is found in Imari colourings as well. Many of the Kutani pieces were marked, sometimes simply 'Ku' 'Tani' as here. The glaze was sometimes unstable with a tendency to craze as can be seen here, but this is original to the manufacture and does not detract from the piece's decorative appeal.

Japanese Arita Bowl decorated with panels of flowers and interior Scenes, circa 1820
Price: £45The rather more elaborate style of decoration here and the addition of enamel colours to the standard imari palette of underglaze blue, iron red and gold resembles 'kenjo imari' pieces produced in Japan in the eighteenth century and in the early nineteenth century, a specific type of Imari that was highly decorated and meant for domestic consumption, Kenjo, meaning 'for presentation'. The paste of the foot, harder and smoother than that used in the later nineteenth century, suggests a dating here to around 1820 before trade with the West was temporarily paused. The form suggests a cup for Sake and this piece was probably one of an original set of five, but it stands on its own as a decorative item in miniature.

Chinese Framed Ceramic Plaque depicting Peony, C20th
Price: £150
Chinese Bone Netsuke carving of a man holding a musical instrument, early C20th
Price: £25
Chinese Bone Netsuke carving of a Sage, early C20th
Price: £45
Pair of Japanese Noritake Vases, early C20th
Price: £35The Noritake compnay was set up by the Morimura family at Noritake near Nagoya in the early twentieth century. Called at first 'Nippon Toki Kaisha Ltd' on its founding in 1904, the business soon changed its name to 'Noritake' and began the manufacture of porcelains for the domestic and export markets. The mark seen here is interesting. It comprises a 'Komaru' symbol, crowned with "Noritake" and with the mark 'Made In Japan'. The centre symbol said to be taken from the Japanese character "Komaru", meaning "overcoming difficulties". According to the Noritake company tradition this mark was designed when contact with the different culture of the west early in the 20th century caused problems of adaptation. It is also known as the 'tree crest mark' which is the clan crest of the Morimura family. This mark is said to have been registered in London for the UK market by 1908. The curled up ends of the Komaru symbol seen here distinguish this mark from later versions and allow a dating of this piece to the early twentieth century.
Noritake porcelain became synonymous with finely potted tea and breakfast services made in great quantities for export. These vases are a rather more unusual production and show the factory capable of producing high quality pieces with decorative potential.

Framed Chinese Embroidery Silk Textile, signed, second half C20th
Price: £45
Two Chinese folding Fan Leaves with landscape scenes, now mounted, C20th
Price: £25
Group of Three Chinese carved bone Horses with wood stands, probably mid C20th
Price: £30
Japanese Carved Wood Figure of a Young girl, Kokeshi doll style, C20th
Price: £45
Chinese carved wood Box decorated Dragons, early C20th
Price: £150
Japanese satsuma style match stick holder c1940
Price: £45