Japanese Box with Cover, Edo Period, 19th Century

A Japanese ceramic box with lid. The glazing has motives of flying swans. A signature at the bottom of the box.

This exquisite Japanese bronze mirror, measuring approximately 11 cm in diameter, is a rare and enchanting piece of history. Dating back to the 19th century or earlier, it features a...

This small detailed work made between 1890 and 1900 is skillfully painted representing a court lady in regal costumes being attended to by a small child carrying a bolt of silk cloth. This centered in a medallion where the raised decoration is heavily embellished with gold and patterned details. The round outer area is done in a cobalt blue with more goldwork designs and the interior of the box holds small painted objects as symbols of refinement and or beauty. The box is signed by the painter's hand but as yet we have not translated or matched it to a specific maker's work. Wares of this type are most often produced in the city of Kagoshima in Kyushu province during the Meiji period and reflects the export industry designed to cater to western tastes but not particularly bought by Japanese citizens. Patch boxes...

The soft, matte texture and eroded wear of this petite porcelain box suggest it spent many years submerged in saltwater, likely excavated from a sunken trade ship carrying ceramic ex...