Complete Chinese Chess Set with Puzzle Ball Bases

Complete Antique Chinese Water Pipe in Paktong (=an Alloy of Zinc, Copper and Nickel). The Base is decorated with fine plates in Bamboo and Red Copper. It is also provided with Ideog...

19th Century rare large 25'' Chinese export gilt decorated black lacquer gaming board box, finely decorated with gold on a black background of characters, f...

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...

A 19th century Chinese export lacquer chess and backgammon board 50 cm x 50 cm with gold black lacquer board, with white and red counters ...

A early 19th century Chinese export lacquer chess and backgammon board 50 cm x 50 cm, the squares with daoist immortals gold black lacquer...

This elegant set of eating utensils dates to the mid-19th century and would have accompanied the well-to-do traveler on a long, cross-country journey. The set originally included a p...

Chinese cloisonne garniture set with a most unusual black enamel ground; consisting of a pair of covered ginger jars, Height 8 in. (20.32 cm.) and a central vase with fine enamel di...

Rare and complete set Burmese manuscript (KAMMAVACA) made from thick cloth coated with gold and lacquer in nice condition. It was written in the Pal...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this highly collectable Chinese Circa 1950's boxed Imperial Mahjong set with the original wood box including...

A Set of 4 Chinese Export Silver Candlesticks with Glasgow import marks for the firm of George Edward & Sons, 1899. The Scottish firm was one of the few UK companies that stocked Chi...